Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk as a “real genius” and said Russia remains in close contact with him and other US partners over satellite technology. Speaking at a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, Putin stressed the need to coordinate Russia’s emerging Rassvet satellite-internet system with SpaceX’s Starlink so their satellites do not interfere in orbit. Russia’s embassy in South Africa described Rassvet as the country’s alternative to Starlink, but a project still in its early stages: satellite trackers show only a few dozen Rassvet satellites in orbit, compared with roughly 13,000 Starlink satellites.
The remarks come amid signs of warmer US-Russia engagement, despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Ukraine has depended on Starlink for military communications, and its forces recently experienced connectivity problems after Musk acknowledged SpaceX had deliberately restricted service. Other recent developments cited include Donald Trump’s move to pursue Russian diesel imports and waive some sanctions, as well as the release of a US citizen from Russian custody. Musk, a South African-born US entrepreneur whose companies are based in the United States, is also a prominent supporter and financier of Trump and Republican politicians. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.
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