Fury as Elon Musk suggests Russia keep Crimea as part of peace deal
Tesla tycoon says Moscow should agree to abide by the results of a UN-supervised referendum in Ukraine’s east.
The world’s richest man Elon Musk has prompted a furious backlash after suggesting Russia should be allowed to keep Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine as part of a peace deal between the two warring nations.
Sketching out a set of possible terms on Twitter, the electric car tycoon and Tesla co-founder, said Russia should agree to abide by the results of a UN-supervised referendum in Ukraine’s eastern provinces in return for Ukraine promising to remain neutral in the future.
“Russia leaves if that is the will of the people …. (and) Crimea (stays) formally part of Russia as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev’s mistake)”, he said in a four-point proposal, referring to former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s 1954 decision to transfer administration of Crimea from Russia to Ukraine, within the old Soviet Union.
“This is highly likely to be the outcome in the end – just a question of how many die before then,” he suggested to his 107 million followers in a Monday (Tuesday AEDT) tweet, warning of the “possible, albeit unlikely” chance of a nuclear war.
Ukraine-Russia Peace:
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022
- Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is 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.
The suggestions came at the most dangerous stage of the seven-month long war, in which Ukrainian forces retook the initiative last month, repelling Russian forces from large swathes of territory even as Moscow moved to formally incorporate parts of Ukraine into the Russian Federation and warned of nuclear retaliation.
“F. k off is my very diplomatic reply to you, Mr Musk,” said Andrij Melnyk, Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, in reply to Mr Musk.
“The only outcome is that now no Ukrainian will EVER buy your f … ing tesla crap”.
Fuck off is my very diplomatic reply to you @elonmusk
— Andrij Melnyk (@MelnykAndrij) October 3, 2022
The only outcome ist that now no Ukrainian will EVER buy your f…ing tesla crap. So good luck to you .@elonmusk
— Andrij Melnyk (@MelnykAndrij) October 3, 2022
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky applied for Ukraine to be fast-tracked into NATO last week and ruled out ever negotiating with Russia while Vladimir Putin was president.
“Russia’s implementation of the so-called Crimean scenario and another attempt to annex Ukrainian territory will mean that there is nothing to talk about with this President of Russia,” he said in remarks to the UN Security Council.
In an earlier address to the General Assembly, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine had five “non-negotiable” conditions for any settlement, including full compensation by Russia for the war’s cost, “just punishment” for Moscow and complete restoration of all occupied territory by Russia, including Crimea.
Formal peace talks between Russia and Ukraine broke down in March, in Turkey.
“Russia has more than three times population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace,” Mr Musk tweeted later, pushing back against a deluge of online criticism.
Which @elonmusk do you like more?
— Володимир ЗеленÑький (@ZelenskyyUa) October 3, 2022
“Elon Musk is a gutless chickenshit. If you buy a Tesla, you’re giving money to a Putin apologist,” said Adam Parkhomenko, a prominent Democrat political strategist, in response to Mr Musk’s suggestions.
The US and allies, which initially believed Russia would quickly overwhelm Ukraine, have steadily intensified economic sanctions on Russia and ramped up financial aid and technical assistance to Ukraine, stopping short of sending troops.
“America and its allies are not going to be intimidated,” President Biden said at the White House last week, vowing to “defend every single inch of NATO territory” from Russian aggression.
Former president Donald Trump, author of 1987 book Art of the Deal, offered to lead peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine last week.
“Be strategic, be smart (brilliant!), get a negotiated deal done NOW …. The entire World is at stake,“ Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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