Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and the inventor of SpaceX, not long ago made a ‘peace’ proposal for Ukraine that enraged both Ukrainian and other European officials.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, posted a Twitter poll in reaction to Musk’s remarks, asking, “Which Elon Musk do you like more?” either “one who supports Russia” or “one who supports Ukraine.”
Which @elonmusk do you like more?
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 3, 2022
Dmytro Kuleba, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, responded to Musk with even greater vehemence, albeit he did not specifically name Elon Musk. Kuleba tweeted that those who advocate for Ukraine to give up on its people and territory must cease using the phrase “peace” as a euphemism to “let Russians kill and rape thousands more innocent Ukrainians, and take more land,” most likely not to bruise Putin’s shattered ego or spare Ukraine from suffering.
Those who propose Ukraine to give up on its people and land — presumably not to hurt Putin’s bruised ego or to save Ukraine from suffering — must stop using word “peace” as an euphemism to “let Russians murder and rape thousands more innocent Ukrainians, and grab more land”.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) October 3, 2022
Elon Musk’s comments drew responses from other European leaders as well.
Gitanas Nausda, the President of Lithuania, tweeted that Russia does not have the legal authority to rule the Ukrainian territories it has acquired because of phony referendums and outcomes. Russian activities are likened to stealing by Nausda.
Dear @elonmusk, when someone tries to steal the wheels of your Tesla, it doesn't make them legal owner of the car or of the wheels. Even though they claim both voted in favor of it. Just saying. https://t.co/0eEjCydqu1
— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) October 3, 2022
Arvydas Anuauskas, the Defense Minister of Lithuania, said in a tweet that American entrepreneur Elon Musk got “caught in the trap” of the Kremlin’s nuclear blackmail campaign.
After putin waved some flags about nuclear weapon, misinformation about alleged "nuclear weapon convoys" started circulating in Western media. This is not happening but "nuclear temperature" induced by Kremlin is paying dividends of fear. Elon Musk was the first to fall for it.
— Arvydas Anušauskas (@a_anusauskas) October 4, 2022
Musk’s remarks regarding Ukraine have received mostly unfavorable replies on Twitter, with many people asking him to refrain from commenting on topics he evidently has insufficient knowledge about.
By Sophie Hodler
