### Elon Musk Joins Trump-Zelenskyy Call, Reinforces Starlink's Role in Ukraine

In a surprising twist, Elon Musk recently made an unexpected appearance during a phone call between former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This development, first reported by Axios, signifies the growing influence of the Tesla CEO in political matters as the new year approaches.

Musk spent about 25 minutes on the call, during which Trump facilitated a brief conversation between Musk and Zelenskyy. President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to Musk for supplying Ukraine with Starlink satellites, a service provided by Musk's SpaceX. Zelenskyy thanked Musk for ensuring continued internet connectivity in Ukraine, a critical resource during the ongoing conflict.

Musk's involvement in this geopolitical issue has seen him offer contrasting positions. Initially, his deployment of Starlink satellites to Ukraine was a significant gesture, supported financially by various entities, including the U.S. government. Yet, Musk has demonstrated ambivalence over time. For instance, Walther Isaacson's biography on Musk notes that he declined to activate Starlink over Crimea, citing concerns about escalating the conflict and involving SpaceX in "a major act of war."

During the conversation that predominantly included Trump and Zelenskyy, Trump assured the Ukrainian leader of his ongoing support for Ukraine, though specific details were not disclosed. Zelenskyy later praised Trump and his team for their campaign success and tweeted about the commitment to maintain a strong U.S.-Ukraine partnership, emphasizing the importance of U.S. leadership in achieving global peace.

Musk's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been further complicated by reports of his regular communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2022. A report from the Wall Street Journal highlighted that Starlink had been part of these discussions, with Putin allegedly asking Musk not to activate Starlink over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Responding to online criticism regarding these reports, Musk dismissed the accusations in a tweet, comparing them to unsuccessful efforts to malign Trump. This ongoing narrative reflects Musk's complex and nuanced engagement in international affairs, positioning him as a significant civilian player in the current geopolitical landscape.