Russian President Putin on the 16th praised billionaire Musk, describing him as a pioneer comparable to the legendary Soviet-era rocket engineer Korolev.
During his visit to Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Putin told students: “You know, there is a man named Musk, he lives in the United States, and you could say he is very obsessed with Mars.”
He stated: “Such people do not usually appear among groups of humans, they are full of certain ideas. These ideas may seem incredible even today, but often come to fruition after some time. Just like the ideas of our pioneer Korolev, eventually realized at the appropriate moment.”
Korolev is regarded as the father of the Soviet space program; he designed the first "Sputnik" satellite and the manned spacecraft "Vostok 1." The manned spacecraft was launched in 1961, making Soviet astronaut Gagarin the first human in space.
Under U.S. President Trump, the U.S. and Russia established closer relations. Musk often criticizes Ukraine and last month accused Ukrainian President Zelensky of wanting a “forever war.”