Former Russian lawmaker discusses purpose of Putin-Musk contacts

He shared his opinions on Espreso TV.

Ponomarev stated, "There are undoubtedly connections between Putin and Musk because Putin respects one thing above all - money. As they say in Moscow, 'money conquers evil.' Putin's main dream is for the final negotiations to happen between Musk, Abramovich, and someone like Rinat Akhmetov from Ukraine, with them deciding everything among themselves before presenting the results to world leaders. He believes that where there’s money, there are decisions and influence.

Putin respects Trump because he is a billionaire. Although Putin is richer than Trump, he views them as part of the same club. Musk, as one of the wealthiest people globally, also earns Putin's respect. Musk has a cynical way of speaking that aligns with Putin's values. While Elon Musk isn’t a bad person, he lacks experience in international politics and doesn’t fully grasp what’s happening. He’s focused on hype, PR, and making bold announcements. He craves attention and is willing to do anything to get it.”

• The Wall Street Journal, citing sources among U.S. officials, reported that Elon Musk has been in regular contact with Putin since late 2022.