Elon Musk joins Trump-Zelensky call, pledges support through starlink for Ukraine

World News: The close relationship between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump has become increasingly evident in recent months. Musk, a vocal supporter of Trump’s political vision, has been speculated to join Trump’s administration in some influential capacity. On Wednesday, Trump offered a glimpse into what Musk's role might entail as he invited the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to join a phone conversation with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Musk Joins Call with Trump and Zelensky

During the call, Trump reportedly handed the phone to Musk, inviting him to participate in discussions with President Zelensky. The nature of the conversation remains confidential, and it is unknown if there was any policy shift discussed regarding the U.S. stance on Ukraine. However, the gesture of bringing Musk into such a high-level discussion underscores Trump’s trust in Musk’s influence and insights. According to Axios, sources present at Mar-a-Lago revealed that the call lasted for about 30 minutes and that Zelensky appeared “somewhat reassured” by Musk’s contributions to the conversation.

Starlink’s Continued Role in Ukraine’s Defense

During the call, Musk reportedly reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense by continuing the operation of his Starlink satellite network in the region. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, Starlink has been a strategic asset for Ukraine, providing essential communication capabilities to its military forces. The satellite network has enabled Ukraine to relay critical data, such as real-time drone coordinates, across military units, even in areas where mobile networks have been disabled.

Diplomatic Assurances and Ongoing Discussions

The conversation follows recent diplomatic exchanges between Trump and Zelensky. The two leaders previously met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September, where they discussed the potential for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Trump assured Zelensky at the time, “I promise you will be happy with me,” signaling his intent to take a supportive yet measured approach to U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Positive Remarks from Zelensky

After Wednesday’s call, Zelensky expressed his approval of the discussion and offered congratulations to Trump on his “historic landslide victory.” In a message posted on social media platform X, Zelensky stated, “I had an excellent call with President Trump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory—his tremendous campaign made this result possible.”