Elon Musk is a ‘real genius’, Putin says after satellite talks with SpaceX boss

Elon Musk is a "real genius", Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday after revealing the two are in "close" contact about satellite technology.

The remarks came during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, where Putin discussed Russia's satellite internet project, Rassvet, which provides internet connections via satellites.

"He's a genius, a real genius," Putin said of Musk, according to a BBC translation of his remarks. "We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr Musk."

Starlink is part of Musk's company SpaceX. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Putin added that it was important for Russia to be in contact with Musk so that the Rassvet and Starlink satellites do not "interfere with each other in orbit".

"We and our American partners value this mutually, and despite all the political questions, we are working hard," he said.

Starlink has launched roughly 13,000 of its satellites, according to the company. By contrast there are only a couple of dozen Rassvet satellites currently in orbit, according to online satellite trackers.

The Russian Embassy in South Africa said on Wednesday Rassvet is "Russia's Starlink alternative" and "marks only the country's first steps in this field".

"Russia maintains close contacts with the US on space, including with Elon Musk," the embassy wrote.

Putin's comments about Rassvet and Starlink were made as the US and Russia appear to be growing closer, even as it approaches five years since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine relied on Starlink internet to keep Russia's forces at bay. But its military suddenly suffered Starlink connectivity problems last week, something Musk has admitted SpaceX did intentionally.

US President Donald Trump earlier this month said he'd struck a deal with Russia to import diesel in an effort to lower gas prices that have skyrocketed due to the US war with Iran.

Then Trump waived certain sanctions against Russia that were set to take effect.

Not long after, a US citizen was released from Russian custody, with US envoy Steve Witkoff referring to Putin as a "humanitarian".

Musk was born in South Africa, immigrated to Canada, and then settled in the US. All of his business ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink, are based in America, with most operating out of California and Texas.

The billionaire, and off-and-on trillionaire, has been one of Trump's biggest political allies and financiers, as well as a major backer of other Republican US politicians.