Verbal contest between Elon Musk and Ukrainian officials over the Russian invasion
Elon Musk sparked a debate on Twitter regarding the war in Ukraine, resulting in less than cordial exchanges with Ukrainian diplomats.
(illustrative image) REUTERS - DADO RUVIC
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials discussed the Russian invasion on Monday (October 3rd) with American billionaire Elon Musk on Twitter, with Kiev's ambassador to Germany going so far as to tell the SpaceX founder "
d 'go fuck yourself
'.
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The exchange began with Elon Musk's proposal for peace between Kyiv and Moscow based on new UN-supervised referendums, the surrender of Crimea to Russia and a "
neutral status
" for Russia.
Ukraine.
The American billionaire left his Twitter followers the choice to vote "
Yes
" or "
No
" to this proposal.
Ukraine-Russia Peace:
- Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision.
Russia leaves if that is will of the people.
- Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev's mistake).
- Water supply to Crimea assured.
- Ukraine remains neutral.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded with another poll for his followers: "
Which Elon Musk do you prefer, the one who supports Ukraine or the one who supports Russia
?"
»
Which @elonmusk do you like more?
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 3, 2022
Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak proposed "
a better peace plan
" with the "
liberation of its territories by Ukraine, including annexed Crimea
", a "
demilitarization and denuclearization
" of Russia and that the "
criminals of war
" are brought before international justice.
“
My very diplomatic answer is to go to see you
”, launched for his part the Ukrainian ambassador in Germany Andriy Melnyk.
Elon Musk then argued that Russia could choose to lead a broader mobilization of its population for an “ all-out
war
” that will lead to “
a devastating death toll on both sides
”.
“
A Ukrainian victory is unlikely in an all-out war.
If you care about the Ukrainian people, seek peace
,” he wrote.
Russia is doing partial mobilization.
They go to full war mobilization if Crimea is at risk.
Death on both sides will be devastating.
Russia has >3 times population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war.
If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who decreed a "
partial
" mobilization and threatened to use nuclear weapons in the face of recent Ukrainian military successes, called on Kiev to "
cease hostilities
" and "
return to the negotiating table
".
President Zelensky has claimed that kyiv will not negotiate with Moscow as long as Mr Putin is president.
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Ukraine
Elon Musk
Volodymyr Zelensky