A senior Ukrainian official confirmed to news agencies that Elon Musk joined a call between Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which the latter congratulated the president-elect on his election victory.
“It was a very good call. Our work continues,” said the official.
Musk’s unexpected appearance during the first official conversation between President-elect Trump and Zelenskyy may indicate his influence in the upcoming Trump administration.
“I had an excellent call with President Trump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory — his tremendous campaign made this result possible,” posted Zelenskyy on X.
According to Axios reporting, details on Elon Musk’s specific role weren’t disclosed, though sources reported Musk expressed his intent to continue to support Ukraine through his Starlink network of satellites—a service crucial to Ukraine’s wartime communications.
Throughout the campaign, Trump voiced skepticism about continued American aid to Ukraine and emphasized a rapid resolution to its conflict with Russia, raising concerns across Europe.
President-elect Trump assured President Zelenskyy of support on the call, which lasted 25 minutes but didn’t provide specifics on military aid or policies. Axios first reported Musk’s presence on the call, and Musk hasn’t yet commented.
According to sources, Zelenskyy interpreted both Trump’s reassurances and the timing of the call as good signs. Trump and his advisers have privately conveyed more supportive messages about the war-torn country than suggested during the campaign.
The phone call is expected to be the first of several between Zelenskyy’s advisors and Trump’s team as both sides navigate the U.S. involvement in the continuing conflict.
Musk’s call participation wasn’t planned
Musk, the billionaire owner of SpaceX and CEO of X and Tesla, was only briefly on the call, and his involvement was unplanned, according to individuals familiar with the call. Musk reportedly walked into the room during the conversation. He has reportedly been promised a role in the new administration.
Trump conducted the call in his Florida Mar-a-Lago estate.
During the call, Zelenskyy noted he was using Starlink for the conversation, and Musk replied he would continue to send additional ground stations to Ukraine and then leave the room.
The brief Zelenskyy-Musk interaction, detailed by people familiar with the call’s contents, shows Elon Musk’s unprecedented access to the future American president and the role he will play in the upcoming administration. As Trump ponders how to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, Musk, who has held numerous phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, could have some influence over the final plan.
Although Musk’s participation in the call was unplanned, his control of Starlink makes him a significant player in the future of the Ukraine-Russia war. Their introduction to the battlefield gave Ukrainian forces remote location access to the internet, providing them an advantage against Russian forces.
Russian troops have additionally obtained Starlink terminals, narrowing Ukraine’s technological advantage and complicating its defense.
The Ukrainian side felt the call with the president-elect went well, said one individual, and didn’t end up believing the Trump administration would end U.S. military support for Ukraine immediately. “Good, positive atmospherics,” said the person, “but no specifics discussed.”
On the campaign trail, Trump vowed he would convince Russia and Ukraine to lay down their arms and halt the war before his inauguration. Given Ukraine’s reliance on military assistance from the United States, Donald Trump has far more leverage over Zelenskyy to get him to the bargaining table. Getting Vladimir Putin to negotiate, as his forces have been making battlefield progress, could be a more difficult proposition for the incoming president.
