Billionaire Elon Musk has been heavily criticized after he published a series of tweets about the invasion of Ukraine.
On Monday evening, Musk tweeted about the conflict, first saying that to achieve peace between Ukraine and Russia there must be a "re-do" of elections "under UN supervision" in four areas of Ukraine illegally annexed by Russia. Musk said that "Russia should leave" those areas "if that is the will of the people."
He also said that Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, should become "formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev's mistake), referring to the 1954 decree issued by then-Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev to transfer responsibility for Crimea to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
The idea that Crimea is part of Ukraine was "Khrushchev's mistake" has long been a talking point in the Kremlin.
The Tesla CEO also said that Ukraine should "remain neutral" and in subsequent tweets added that "victory for Ukraine is unlikely."
Ukraine-Russia Peace:
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022
- Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is the 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.
In response to his tweets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted a poll asking "which Elon Musk do you like best?" with the options "he who supports Ukraine" or "he who supports Russia".
Which @elonmusk do you like more?
— Volodymyr Zelenskyi (@ZelenskyyUa) October 3, 2022
Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said: "Those who propose that Ukraine give up its people and its land - apparently to not hurt Putin's bruised ego or to save Ukraine from suffering - should stop to use the word "peace" as a euphemism for "letting the Russians kill and rape thousands more innocent Ukrainians and grab more land."
The ambassador of Ukraine in Germany commented through a not at all diplomatic language: "Go to hell! This is my very diplomatic answer to you," he said, adding that no Ukrainian "will ever buy your dirty Tesla. So, good luck.”
Most of the reactions on Twitter to Musk's comments have been negative, with many telling him not to comment on things he apparently knows very little about.
