Musk called the complete withdrawal of Russian forces an illusion and said that peace would require concessions in Moscow’s favor

American entrepreneur, founder of SpaceX and Tesla Elon Musk said in an interview with The Economist that Russia is unlikely to agree to the complete withdrawal of its troops from the territory of Ukraine, and that ending the war, in his view, will require compromises.

Explaining his position, the entrepreneur described as unrealistic the scenario in which Moscow would agree to a one-hundred-percent withdrawal of forces, and emphasized that he is calling for a realistic formula for peace.

«It is an illusion that Russia must completely withdraw its troops, etc., but that is unrealistic. I have long advocated for peace. A few years ago I wrote that certain concessions to Russia are necessary. This is not a pro-Russian position. I am simply a pragmatist», — Elon Musk said in an interview with The Economist.

He noted that the front line, in his assessment, has remained almost unchanged for about 2–3 years, yet the fighting causes new losses among military personnel and civilians every day.

Musk also expressed hope that a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia can be reached as soon as possible to stop further bloodshed.

Separately, he criticized some diplomats and politicians, stressing the unacceptable nature of a situation in which conversations about the war continue at official receptions while people die on the front line every day.

Earlier we wrote:

• “Enough of war”: Zelensky issued a direct challenge to Putin and proposed a personal meeting
• We didn’t attack, but should we give in? Zelensky on the strange logic of the negotiations
• “It’s not us who’ve run out of patience”: Zelensky explained to the US what it’s like to live under missile strikes
• Ukraine issued an ultimatum: peace talks or military pressure
• Elon Musk advises sacrificing Ukraine’s territorial integrity to avoid a Third World War