‘Choose your fighter’: Elon Musk issues hilarious new Vladimir Putin taunt

The world’s richest man has stepped up his bizarre goading of Vladimir Putin, just hours after challenging him to a one-on-one fight.

Elon Musk has stepped up his personal attack on Vladimir Putin with a hysterical new dig at the Russian president.

The world’s richest man earlier made global headlines after taking to Twitter to challenge the 69-year-old to one-on-one combat over the fate of Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion of its neighbour.

“I hereby challenge Vladimir Putin to single combat. Stakes are Ukraine,” he said, using Russian and Ukrainian language for effect.

He later tweeted directly at the Kremlin, asking if they “agree to this fight”.

When one of Musk’s 77 million followers wrote that the Tesla founder might not have thought his challenge through, Musk said he was “absolutely serious.”

“If Putin could so easily humiliate the west, then he would accept the challenge. But he will not,” the 50-year-old added.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has once again taunted Vladimir Putin. Picture: Frederic J Brown/AFP

Initially, the Kremlin did not respond to the direct challenge – but soon, the boss of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos weighed in.

“You, little devil, are still young,” director general Dmitry Rogozin said in response to Musk’s tweet.

“Compete with me weakling; It would only be a waste of time. Overtake my brother first.”

Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov also jumped in, asking the Space X founder to send Mr Putin to Jupiter.

The invasion has sparked global protests. Picture: John MacDougall/AFP

And now, Musk has responded to Mr Rogozin with a hilarious new taunt aimed directly at Mr Putin.

“I see you are a tough negotiator! Ok, you can have 10% more pay per view money,” he replied, alongside a picture of a bare-chested Mr Putin riding a bear through a stream, and a photo of himself wielding a flamethrower.

The bizarre collage was accompanied by the caption: “Choose your fighter”.

I see you are a tough negotiator!

Ok, you can have 10% more pay per view money. pic.twitter.com/Nrbkz9IsTP

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2022

“He can even bring his bear,” Musk said in another tweet.

Musk has emerged as a staunch supporter of Ukraine following the invasion, with the billionaire supplying the embattled nation with Starlink terminals – part of Musk’s satellite-based internet system – after the internet went down across large parts of the country as a result of fighting between Ukrainian defenders and Russian troops.

He also announced that Ukrainians employed by Tesla would be paid for up to three months if they wanted to return to their homeland to fight in the war.

It comes as the invasion of Ukraine rages well into its third week – although there are increasing signs all is not going to plan for Russia.

US officials have claimed “almost all” of Russia’s military advances in Ukraine have made no significant progress in recent days, while a retired US army general has suggested Russia will “run out of time, people and ammunition” if Ukraine can hold out for just another 10 days.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Russian soldiers to surrender in his latest public address.

The number of refugees fleeing Ukraine since the Russian invasion was launched by President Vladimir Putin on February 24 is now nearly 2.7 million, the UN claims. Picture: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP

“What are you dying for?” Mr Zelensky asked, addressing the Russians directly.

“I know you want to survive. We hear in your intercepted calls what you really think of this war, of this shame, and of your state. Your conversations with each other, your calls home to your families, we hear everything. We know who you are.

“That is why I offer you a choice: if you surrender to our forces, we will treat you as humans have to be treated, with dignity. The way you have not been treated in your army. And the way your army doesn’t treat our people. Choose.”