Tesla CEO Elon Musk denied claims that he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin before posting a Twitter poll on Oct. 3 suggesting that locals in parts of Ukraine want to be part of Russia.
Ian Bremmer, president of the political risk research firm Eurasia Group, alleged that Musk spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin before he posted the poll, according to Vice News. Bremmer asserted Musk had a “direct conversation” with Putin about the conflict.
Vice, citing Bremmer’s claims, alleged Musk was told by Putin that he “prepared to negotiate” but only if the Crimean Peninsula remained under Russian territory amid other claims that Ukraine must adopt the formal status of neutrality and has to recognize Russia’s annexations of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia….