Russian President Putin compares Elon Musk to Soviet space icon Sergei Korolev
Updated: Apr 17th, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk during a conversation with students at Moscow’s Bauman Technical University on Wednesday, likening the American tech entrepreneur to legendary Soviet space engineer Sergei Korolev.
According to reports, Putin commended Musk for his unwavering commitment to space exploration, particularly his vision of colonising Mars.
He stated that Musk’s enthusiasm for interplanetary travel reminded him of Korolev, who was the mastermind behind the Soviet Union’s early space triumphs, including Yuri Gagarin’s historic 1961 spaceflight.
As per reports, Putin described Musk as being ‘absolutely crazy about Mars,’ and remarked that individuals like him appear only rarely in human history. He was quoted as saying that although Musk’s ideas might seem far-fetched today, such ambitious visions often materialise with time.
“There is a person in the United States, Musk, who is absolutely driven by the idea of reaching Mars,” Putin reportedly said. “Such individuals are rare in the human population. Today, their ideas may appear unbelievable, but with time, they often become reality.”
He further added, as per local media, that Musk’s passion is reminiscent of how the ideas of Soviet space pioneers eventually led to significant achievements. “Just as the dreams of Korolev and other pioneers were realised in their time, similar ideas may also come true,” Putin reportedly said.
The Russian leader’s remarks have drawn attention for their unusually positive tone toward a prominent American figure, especially amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between Moscow and the West.
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