Zelensky: Musk Spoke With Putin and Me at the War's Start

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Elon Musk was in contact with both Vladimir Putin and himself at the very start of Russia's full-scale invasion. He made the remark in an interview with PBS NewsHour, reported on Nov 4, 2026 by Around Prague and Policy Wire. Zelensky gave no details of the timing or the subject of those contacts, and no content of any conversation between Musk and Putin was disclosed in the reports.

Zelensky stated the point in one sentence: "At the very beginning of the war, Elon had contact with both Putin and me." A second report of the interview renders the key word as "communication" rather than contact.

Does Musk support Ukraine

Asked whether he believes Musk supports Ukraine and wants it to win, Zelensky answered that he does not know. That answer sat next to clear gratitude for one part of Musk's role. Zelensky said he is grateful for the role Starlink has played in the war. At the same time, he said some of Musk's earlier public signals did not look pro-Ukrainian, Around Prague reported.

The interview context included a sharper public moment. On Oct 15, 2026, Musk publicly called on Zelensky to resign, per Around Prague's account of the interview context.

Starlink and the Starshield dispute

The satellite dispute behind the remarks is concrete. Ukraine relies on SpaceX's Starlink system and has never received access to Starshield, the military-grade system. Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, WDPP reported. Zelensky said he raised the Starshield restrictions with President Donald Trump three or four times. He said Trump told him the decision did not depend on Trump but on SpaceX, the Kyiv Post reported.

No talks with Musk, and rival claims on Starlink use

Musk has not agreed to talk with Zelensky about SpaceX's work in Ukraine, WDPP reported. Kyiv has said SpaceX limited the operation of Starlink terminals for the Ukrainian armed forces. Musk has said Starlink is not used for offensive combat operations, WDPP also reported.

Praise from Moscow days before the interview

Days before the interview aired, Putin publicly praised Musk and called him a "genius." Putin also spoke about Moscow's contacts with the billionaire. He said Russia keeps close communication with American partners including Musk to avoid mutual interference between satellites, Around Prague reported.

The Wall Street Journal has separately reported regular contact between Musk and Putin, Policy Wire noted. That is prior reporting, and it adds no detail about what Musk and Putin discussed.

What is still unknown

The reports leave the core questions open. Zelensky did not say when the early contacts took place beyond the start of the war, what they covered, or whether they changed any decision. He also left his own judgment open, saying he does not know whether Musk supports Ukraine and wants it to win. What the interview does show is a wartime leader who depends on Starlink, wants access to Starshield, and has raised that request with Trump three or four times without getting it.