Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again heaped praise on Elon Musk, calling him a visionary with ideas as bold as those of famed Soviet rocket engineer Sergei Korolev.
Speaking to students during a visit to Moscow’s Bauman University on Wednesday, Putin said Musk is among the rare individuals “charged-up with a certain idea,” comparing his obsession with Mars to the early ambitions of Soviet space pioneers.
“You know, there’s a man, he lives in the States, Musk, who, you could say, raves about Mars,” Putin told the students. “These are the kind of people who don’t often appear in the human population,” he added, highlighting that while such ideas may seem incredible now, “they often come to fruition after a while”.
“Such people rarely appear… even though it may seem incredible to me today, after a time such ideas are often realised”, the Russian President further said.
Sergei Korolev, to whom Musk was compared, is credited with launching the Soviet space programme, including the world’s first satellite, Sputnik and Vostok 1, which carried Yuri Gagarin into orbit in 1961.
Putin’s remarks also likely reflect the warmer ties developing between Moscow and Washington under US President Donald Trump, who has appointed Musk as a top advisor.
This isn’t the first time Putin has expressed admiration for Musk. During a widely watched interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, he said, “There’s no stopping Elon Musk.
He will do as he sees fit.” Referring to Neuralink, Musk’s brain-chip venture, the Russian leader added, “You’ll need to find some common ground with him… persuade him,” and called Musk a “smart person” with whom it is essential to reach an agreement due to the far-reaching implications of AI and human enhancement.
At the 2023 Eastern Economic Forum, Putin had similarly called Musk “an extraordinary person” and a “talented businessman,” recognising his global influence and entrepreneurial success. “This is also recognised all over the world,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Musk continues to stir controversy over his views on the war in Ukraine. The SpaceX chief, who operates the Starlink satellite network used in conflict zones, recently accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of seeking a “forever war” and said Kyiv had gone “too far” in the conflict.
