A top Russian official has responded to tech billionaire Elon Musk’s challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a “common fight” to end the invasion of Ukraine, citing verses from Alexander Pushkin’s The story of the priest and his workman Balda.
“You, little devil, are still young,” wrote Dmitry Rogozin, director general of the Russian space program Roscosmos, citing Pushkin’s poem. “You are weak to compete with me; it would only be a waste of time. Catch up with my brother first,” added Mr. Rogozin.
есенок, еще олоденек,
о ою аться слабенек;
о было ишь времени ата.
они-ка сперва моего ата.† † ин “Сказка о Попе и работнике его Балде” https://t.co/KuR328iH20
— (@Rogozin) March 14, 2022
Musk had challenged President Putin to a one-on-one battle to end the war in Ukraine. “I hereby challenge Vladimir Putin to single combat. The stakes are Ukraine,” he tweeted.
I hereby challenge
адимир ин
to a duelBets are аїна
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022
While President Putin did not respond to Elon Musk’s tweet, the Roscosmos official did.
But the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla didn’t seem amused, and he doubled down with another offer to provoke the Russian president to fight him.
“I see you’re a tough negotiator! Okay, you can get 10% more pay-per-view money,” Musk responded to Rogozin’s tweet. The tweet featured an image of a shirtless President Putin riding a bear and Elon Musk aiming a firethrower at him.
I see you are a tough negotiator!
Okay, you can have 10% more pay-per-view money. pic.twitter.com/Nrbkz9IsTP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2022
Elon Musk is very candid about his support for Ukraine. He has already sent Starlink terminals to the war-stricken country to keep internet services running. But he has also said he feared Russian troops could attack Starlink satellites to disrupt internet communications in Ukraine.
Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still operational in some parts of Ukraine, so it is likely to be attacked. Use with caution.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2022
And this wasn’t the first time the tech mogul mocked Russian officials. When Mr Rogozin warned that sanctions against Russia could destroy cooperation with the International Space Station (ISS) and asked him who would save the ISS from an “uncontrolled deorbit” if Roscosmos pulled out, Mr Musk tweeted only with an image of RuimteX.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
In the latest development on Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, the mayor of Kiev has announced that a 35-hour curfew will be imposed on the Ukrainian capital from Tuesday evening in response to new Russian attacks.