Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly commented on statements made by American entrepreneur Elon Musk regarding Russian military personnel. According to the head of state, Kyiv does not share Musk's attitude toward the conflict when he speculates about how Russia is losing soldiers. Zelenskyy made these remarks in an interview, a teaser of which was published on November 4 by the German program ZDF Magazin Royale, with quotes disseminated by RBC-Ukraine.
"Let them lose soldiers on foreign territory"
In his comments, Zelenskyy directly expressed disagreement with Musk's rhetoric. "We don't like his attitude toward this war when he muses about how Russia is losing soldiers," the president stated. He added: "The aggressor — God bless, may they lose soldiers who are on foreign territory, and not on their own land." Thus, Zelenskyy highlighted the fundamental difference between casualties in occupied territory and on one's own land, which, according to him, Kyiv cannot ignore.
"These are not the kinds of jokes I can understand"
Answering a question about the nature of Musk's statements, the Ukrainian president noted that he could not definitively determine whether the businessman was being serious or joking. "I don't know if he is serious or not serious, joking. These are not the kinds of jokes I can understand, although I understand jokes very well," Zelenskyy emphasized. This phrase became a key quote from the interview and was featured in the headlines of Ukrainian and international media.
Context: Musk's call to end hostilities
Musk's remarks, to which Zelenskyy reacted, were made earlier. On October 25 on social media platform X, the entrepreneur urged sympathy for Russian conscripts, calling them "children" without the right to choice. He stated that combat operations and massive drone strikes must end immediately. These formulations essentially served as the catalyst for Kyiv's sharp reaction, where they were viewed as sympathetic to the adversary's position.
Moscow's position: Musk is a "genius person"
Against the backdrop of these statements, on October 28 Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced close contact between Russia and the US in the space sector, including with Musk. Putin called the Russian satellite system "Rassvet" an analogue of Starlink, and Musk himself a "genius person." These words contrasted sharply with Zelenskyy's reaction and underscored how differently Musk's statements are perceived in Kyiv and Moscow.
Significance of the statements
Zelenskyy's reaction highlights one of the persistent points of tension in the public discourse surrounding the conflict: attitudes toward the parties' casualties and the acceptability of "neutral" calls for a ceasefire. For Kyiv, any formulations that place casualties on occupied territory and on one's own land on the same level remain unacceptable. For Moscow, conversely, support for Musk in the space sector and his public evaluations become part of a broader narrative about contacts with the US. Thus, the dispute surrounding Musk's words goes beyond the businessman's personal opinion and reflects diverging positions between the sides on key issues of waging war.
