Elon Musk calls on the US not to send aid to Ukraine because “Putin will never lose the war”

The bill passed the Senate early Tuesday but still faces an uphill battle. Photo: SERGEY GAPON/AFP

Elon Musk called on Republican senators to oppose the Ukraine aid bill on the eve of a critical vote, because “there is no way” that Vladimir Putin could lose the war.

Speech ahead of Senate vote on In the £75 billion ($95 billion) spending package, which includes £47.6 billion ($60 billion) for Ukraine, Musk rejected the proposal, saying «these spending will not help Ukraine.»

The bill passed early Tuesday morning by a vote of 70 to 29 after an overnight session in which 22 Republicans voted with their Democratic colleagues to approve the aid.

The bill now faces a tough fight. in the House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson has already condemned the law.

US President Joe Biden called on Republican Johnson to “immediately” bring the bill to the floor.

< p>“I urge the Speaker to allow the full House to speak its mind and not allow a minority of the most extreme voices in the House to block even a vote on this bill,” he said.

He added. : “Republicans in Congress who think they can oppose Ukrainian funding and not be held accountable are being watched by history. The failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will not be forgotten.”

Mr. Musk discussed the proposed legislation on X Spaces, part of his social network formerly known as Twitter, with Republican senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and J.D. Vance of Ohio, both of whom are Donald Trump sympathizers.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate who has been tipped as a possible Trump vice president, also took part in the discussion along with David Sachs, a former PayPal entrepreneur and close friend of Musk.

Elon Musk's Starlink Internet service has become a critical component of the war in Ukraine. Photo: GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS

Mr Musk's comments are his latest foray into politics as he increasingly leans Republican in a move that could have major implications for the election and the war in Ukraine.

Mr Musk agreed with Mr Johnson that anyone expecting victory because Ukraine was «living in a fantasy world» before calling «we should repeal this thing [the bill].»

“This spending will not help Ukraine,” Mr. Musk said, adding: “Extending the war law does not help Ukraine.”

He said he hoped Americans would contact their elected officials representatives about the bill.

He said that deaths in war «must be for some purpose» and «not just a mile here, a mile there,» before adding: «Putin would never will not lose.”

The Tesla billionaire also suggested that if Putin renounces the war, “he will be killed” and this could lead to an even confrontation. a more “hardcore” replacement.

Musk, meanwhile, called accusations that he is a Putin apologist “absurd,” arguing that his companies have “probably done more to undermine Russia than anything else.” «.

His company SpaceX provided the Starlink Internet service. to Ukraine, and the company has also diverted business away from the Russian space launch industry.

Ukraine said this week that Russia had bypassed sanctions to supply Starlink to its frontline troops, a potential game-changer.

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Kiev's military said receiving terminals were being supplied through «Arab countries»

Last week, Putin called Musk a “smart man” during his controversial interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Later, in response to a tweet from a Washington Post columnist who criticized Musk's call to action as «Shameful,» he said: «Nothing has changed on the Russian-Ukrainian border for a year, just a lot of dead children.

«What psycho wants this to continue?»

It comes as Democrats face the challenge of forcing the House to vote on the bill, which would also provide £11 billion. ($14 billion) for Israel and almost £8 billion ($10 billion) for humanitarian aid to civilians in conflict zones, including Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Mr Johnson preemptively rejected the bill on Monday night over its failure to address border security, despite playing a critical role in defeating an earlier version of the legislation that included sweeping immigration reforms.< /p>

p>The previous bill was condemned by Mr. Trump, who called it a «death wish» for the Republican Party.

Democrats can file a discharge petition to bring the bill to the House floor if they Once in the House, the bill faces an uncertain future amid Republican opposition and the frustration of some progressive Democrats who oppose funding for Israel.