Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly lauded Elon Musk as "a real genius" after holding talks with the SpaceX chief on satellite-related issues. Putin said the two were in "close" contact, remarks that followed their discussions.
The comments, made by Putin after the talks, emphasized a positive personal view of the US-based technology entrepreneur. He used the phrase "a real genius" to describe Musk and indicated ongoing communications between them on the subject of satellites.
Putin did not provide extensive detail about the content or outcomes of the satellite discussions in his remarks. The brief public comments focused on his assessment of Musk rather than on technical or policy specifics arising from the talks.
The exchange underscores a high-profile interaction between the Kremlin and a leading figure in the private space sector. Putin's characterization of the relationship as "close" highlights continued lines of contact between Russian authorities and international commercial space actors, at least on this issue.