Ukraine must strengthen ties with new U.S. administration, Musk - diplomat

Ukrainian diplomat Volodymyr Omelyan stated this on Espreso TV.

“Musk is expected to focus on projects that align with his interests, such as high-tech innovations and space exploration. He will likely try to shift the military agenda away from Washington, though whether he will succeed is uncertain, as many have tried to achieve peace without success," Omelyan noted.

He added that Ukraine has to actively, but discreetly, establish contacts with the new U.S. administration, including Musk.

"We had a historic opportunity to launch several of Musk's projects in Ukraine, such as electric mobility, lithium production, the construction of his factory, or the supply of components for it, as well as the Hyperloop," Omelyan said. "Unfortunately, we missed this chance due to negligence, but we still need to consider what projects Musk might be interested in pursuing here."

Omelyan also mentioned the same applies to Trump. "He’s an emotional businessman, and it’s not always easy to work with him, as he sometimes acts without thinking ahead. But if we focus on having a real conversation about actions, not just words, we can succeed.

"I wouldn’t lose hope, though – this is just another challenge we need to overcome. We have to keep working together in the military sector because many of Trump’s financial backers have experience in this area. President Zelenskyy also brought up the importance of minerals, which is a good direction. But it requires a lot of groundwork. We can’t just point to a field and claim there’s gold or oil. It needs thorough research, and then we’ll be able to attract partners for cooperation," Omelyan said.

In conclusion, he emphasized that we need to make sure the U.S. understands that Ukraine is a reliable ally in Eastern Europe. 

"If they decide to build bases on our border to protect us from threats from the east, this could become a 'Trump Fort.' This idea was once pushed by the Poles, and we should consider it as well," Omelyan added.

• On Thursday, November 7, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with Donald Trump. During a phone call between Trump and Zelenskyy, Elon Musk was also on the line.
• Ambassador Valeriy Chaly believes Donald Trump may appoint Elon Musk to a government position and promote his political career.