KYIV, Ukraine — In an intriguing turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump connected billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a recent phone call intended to convey congratulations. This detail was confirmed by a Ukrainian official familiar with the conversation, who spoke under the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic.
According to the source, Musk was not actively involved for the entirety of the Wednesday call; instead, Trump seemingly passed his phone to Musk at a certain point. During this exchange, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude towards Musk for his contributions to Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite internet service, which has proven crucial for the country.
Musk’s participation in the call signals his notable standing within Trump’s inner circle. There has been speculation about the possibility of Musk assuming a formal position in the upcoming administration, focusing on enhancing government efficiency. This raises pertinent questions concerning potential conflicts of interest owing to SpaceX’s significant contracts with the government.
Trump’s forthcoming interactions with Zelenskyy are garnering attention as he readies to assume the presidency on January 20. This comes at a time when Trump has hinted at a potential re-evaluation of the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine in light of Russia’s ongoing military aggression, which has persisted for nearly three years.
The president-elect has expressed a desire to bring about a quick end to the conflict, proposing that Ukraine consider ceding certain territories to Russia in return for peace—a notion strongly dismissed by Zelenskyy. Notably, it was under Trump’s administration that the U.S. began supplying arms to Ukraine back in 2017, which included Javelin anti-tank missiles crucial for repelling Russia during the full-scale invasion, which commenced in 2022.
The current administration under President Joe Biden has provided Ukraine with extensive military and economic support, amounting to tens of billions of dollars. This has drawn criticism from Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, both of whom express skepticism towards extensive U.S. participation in overseas conflicts and suggest domestic priorities should be addressed first.
Trump has often touted his cordial relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, remarking that Putin is “pretty smart” for his actions in Ukraine. He has also referred to Zelenskyy as “the greatest salesman on earth,” praising his ability to secure U.S. support.
In recent days, Zelenskyy is just one of several global leaders and influential figures to engage in discussions with Trump at his private retreat in Florida since he was declared winner of the presidential election.
The Trump transition team has opted not to comment on details of private conversations and meetings involving the president-elect.
This account of Musk’s involvement in the Trump-Zelenskyy call was first reported by Axios, underscoring the intersection of business, politics, and diplomacy in the evolving landscape.