Elon Musk’s foray into geopolitics has Ukraine worried
His Starlink internet service has been crucial to the war effort
He was a hero, who went out of his way to keep Ukraine functioning as Russian tanks streamed across its borders. Early in the war Elon Musk gave it access to his Starlink satellite-internet service. But the entrepreneur’s saintly status in Ukraine took a hit this week, after a clumsy foray into geopolitics. On October 3rd he asked his followers on Twitter whether they approved of a four-point “peace plan” to end the war. The proposals appeared to mirror Kremlin talking points, urging Ukraine to accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea, rule out joining NATO and acquiesce to new votes on secession in the parts of the country Russia has occupied. Some bits of Ukraine, he later added, “prefer Russia”. The Kremlin called the initiative “positive”.
This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline “Tweet and sour”
From the October 8th 2022 edition
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