In a recent development, American author Walter Isaacson has stirred controversy with his claims about tech entrepreneur and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk regarding Musk’s refusal to grant access to Kyiv for an attack on the Russian naval base in Sevastopol. Musk, who is 52 years old and a billionaire, unequivocally stated that he is not obligated to support Ukraine as he is not a citizen of the country.
Musk, formerly known as an active user of Twitter (now called X), asserted his loyalty to the United States and his readiness to defend his homeland, even to the point of sacrificing his life. His refusal to provide access to the Starlink satellite system, which he feared could potentially lead to a nuclear conflict with Russia, caused outrage among the international audience.
In his statement on Monday, Musk stated, “I am a citizen of the United States, and I possess only that nationality. Regardless of the circumstances, my allegiance lies with America, and I am willing to defend and die for it.”
Elaborating further on the matter, the tech magnate pointed out that the U.S. Congress had not declared war on Russia, and those accusing him of treason should reconsider their claims. He explicitly stated, “If anyone is committing treason, it is those who accuse me of such actions. Please convey this message to them.”
When questioned by Walter Isaacson, who authored an autobiography of Musk, about his stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Musk clarified that Starlink was not designed for use in wars. Instead, its purpose was to enable people to access services like Netflix, pursue education online, and engage in peaceful activities, not to facilitate drone strikes.
Musk expressed concerns that the Ukrainian attack on Russian vessels could provoke the Kremlin into initiating a full-scale nuclear war. Starlink, a global network consisting of more than 4,000 satellites, has played a crucial role in maintaining communications in Ukraine during the conflict.
Musk argued that Ukraine’s actions were pushing the situation towards strategic defeat and that the successful sinking of the Russian fleet by Ukrainian forces would have had severe consequences, akin to a mini Pearl Harbor, potentially leading to a major escalation.
He emphasized that SpaceX had not deactivated Starlink in response to an alleged emergency request from Ukraine to activate it for Sevastopol, where the Russian Navy is stationed. Musk asserted that agreeing to this request would have implicated SpaceX in a significant act of war and escalation of conflict.
Following the publication of these book excerpts, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, promptly tweeted that if Isaacson’s claims were accurate, Elon Musk appeared to be the most rational thinker in North America.
Notably, Musk had previously faced criticism for his proposal to formally recognize Crimea as part of Russia and his suggestion that residents of regions controlled by Russia should vote on their preferred country affiliation.
In response to these developments, a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mikhail Podoliak, accused Elon Musk of “committing evil” on Twitter (now X), alleging that Russian naval vessels had been involved in deadly attacks on civilians. Podoliak questioned why some individuals were defending war criminals and their desire to commit acts of violence, asserting that they were effectively endorsing evil actions.