### Zelenskyy, Trump, and Musk: An Unusual Trio in Post-Election Call

In an unexpected twist following the recent U.S. election, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined a post-election conversation with President-elect Donald Trump that included an unexpected participant: tech mogul Elon Musk. This event, initially reported by Axios, marks a potentially significant moment indicating Musk's burgeoning influence in international affairs under the potential Trump administration.

A Ukrainian official close to Zelenskyy relayed that Trump handed over the phone to Musk midway through the discussion. "President [Zelenskyy] just thanked Musk for Starlinks," the official stated, referring to Musk’s satellite internet service that has been critical for maintaining Ukraine’s communication networks amidst ongoing Russian attacks.

Although Musk has been a controversial figure in the context of the Ukraine conflict—given his reported regular contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his opposition to American aid to Ukraine—his Starlink terminals have nonetheless proved indispensable for Ukraine. The service has been critical for both military and civilian communications, especially during blackouts caused by Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.

Trump, who has a history of skepticism toward NATO and has frequently voiced resistance to American military support for Ukraine, assured Zelenskyy of his commitment to support Ukraine, albeit without delving into specific details, according to Axios sources. Zelenskyy viewed the promptness of the call as a positive indicator following Trump's victory in the November 5 election.

Zelenskyy and Trump had previously met during the election campaign in New York, a meeting that perhaps paved the way for their immediate post-election communication. Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude and commitment to maintaining close cooperation and dialogue with the U.S., emphasizing the importance of continued U.S. leadership for global peace and stability.

Following the call, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi described the conversation as "excellent," noting that Ukrainian officials remain in close connection with Trump's team. Meanwhile, neither SpaceX nor X have confirmed Musk’s involvement in the call, adding an element of intrigue to this unusual diplomatic episode.