![Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends the Collective Security Treaty Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, November 27, 2025 [Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters]](https://angelnetworknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-27T092158Z_1730917431_RC2X4IALXUJ1_RTRMADP_3_KYRGYZSTAN-SUMMIT-CSTO-1764254917.webp "Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends the Collective Security Treaty Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, November 27, 2025 [Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters]")
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday described Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk as a “real genius” and said Moscow remains in close contact with the American entrepreneur on satellite technology.
Speaking at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Putin discussed Russia’s satellite internet project, Rassvet, and its need to coordinate with existing systems in orbit.
“He’s a genius, a real genius,” Putin said of Musk. “We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr. Musk.”
The Russian leader said the contacts were necessary to prevent interference between Rassvet satellites and SpaceX’s Starlink constellation.
“We and our American partners value this mutually, and despite all the political questions, we are working hard,” he added.
Starlink has launched around 13,000 satellites, while only a few dozen Rassvet satellites are currently in orbit, according to available tracking data.
The Russian Embassy in South Africa described Rassvet as Moscow’s alternative to Starlink and confirmed that Russia maintains close contacts with the United States on space matters, including with Musk.
Putin’s remarks come amid signs of shifting engagement between Moscow and Washington nearly five years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine has relied heavily on Starlink for military and civilian communications during the conflict.
Musk, who was born in South Africa, leads SpaceX and Tesla and has been a prominent supporter of US President Donald Trump.
