Putin Hails Elon Musk as Genius at Russia-Africa Summit

On October 28, 2026, during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly praised Elon Musk, the Chief Executive Officer of SpaceX, calling him a “real genius.” Putin revealed that Russia maintains direct communication with American partners, including Musk, to coordinate low-Earth orbit satellite infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of not interfering with one another in orbit, stating that both Russia and the United States value this cooperation despite existing political tensions.

Alongside Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev, Putin outlined Russia’s domestic satellite internet project, Rassvet, while acknowledging SpaceX’s significant market lead in the satellite sector. Putin's remarks highlight the collaborative efforts between Russia and the United States in space technology and satellite communications.