Elon Musk’s ‘peace’ plan for Russia and Ukraine met with backlash

On Monday, Musk posted a ballot on Twitter with 4 recommendations to ending the battle. The primary: Enlist the United Nations to oversee a redo of the current sham elections by Russia of 4 Ukrainian areas that it formally annexed final week. Subsequent, he referred to as for Crimea—invaded by Russia in 2014 and at the moment occupied by it—to formally grow to be a part of Russia. Then, he stated Crimea’s water provide must be assured. And lastly, he argued, Ukraine ought to stay impartial slightly than becoming a member of NATO. 

“That is extremely prone to be the result in the long run – only a query of what number of die earlier than then,” Musk wrote, as a observe up. “Additionally value noting {that a} attainable, albeit unlikely, final result from this battle is nuclear battle.” 

Lower than three hours after his first tweet, Zelensky responded to Musk together with his personal ballot, mocking Musk’s plan. 

“Which @elonmusk do you want extra?” Zelensky requested. The 2 decisions? One who helps Ukraine, and one who helps Russia. 

Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, also piled on Musk in atypical vogue for a diplomat. “Fuck off is my very diplomatic reply to you,” he wrote. Melnyk later added that no Ukrainian would ever purchase a Tesla, telling Musk “good luck.”

Musk, nonetheless, persevered. 

“Let’s do this then: the need of the individuals who reside within the Donbas & Crimea ought to resolve whether or not they’re a part of Russia or Ukraine,” he wrote—asking his Twitter followers to reply both “sure” or “no.”

Monetary Occasions correspondent Christopher Miller replied to Musk’s tweet, referring to the Ukrainian Independence Referendum, when Ukrainians had been requested to vote on the nation’s independence.

“Let’s not strive that, @elonmusk,” he wrote. “The folks of Donbas & Crimea made their choice in 1991, when Ukrainians from these areas & all others voted freely & unanimously to be in Ukraine.” 

Donbas, a area in Japanese Ukraine, is now practically absolutely occupied by Russia. However Ukraine has vowed to liberate it. 

In suggesting Crimea—a peninsula that’s been on the heart of Russia and Ukraine’s conflicts—ought to formally grow to be a part of Russia, Musk made clear his perception that the area belongs to Russia, including that Crimea’s being transferred to Ukraine from Russia by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was a “mistake.” 

A prime advisor to Zelensky responded sarcastically to Musk’s Twitter diplomacy  by saying there was a “higher peace plan”—together with Ukraine liberating its territories, Russia demilitarizing and denuclearizing so it may well not threaten others, and battle criminals be placed on trial. 

It’s not simply Ukrainian officers who pushed again in opposition to Musk. A lot of his Twitter followers sounded off within the feedback, calling him a “disappointment” and asking that he chorus from weighing in on a subject so outdoors of his experience.  

Regardless of the usually hostile response, Musk gave his peace plan another push on Twitter. 

“Russia is doing partial mobilization. They go to full battle mobilization if Crimea is in danger. Demise on either side will probably be devastating,” the tweet said. “Russia has >3 occasions inhabitants of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in complete battle. In case you care concerning the folks of Ukraine, search peace.”

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