Granting Elon Musk the Medal of Freedom: Zelenskyy Miscalculated
Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Elon Musk the Medal of Freedom, citing "advancing relations between Ukraine and the United States." Indeed, at the beginning of the war, Musk provided Starlink terminals to Ukrainian forces free of charge, giving Ukraine a communication advantage. However, beyond this, Musk’s actions have revealed a different stance:
-- After taking over Twitter, Musk lifted all content restrictions on official Kremlin accounts, as well as those of Russia’s Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry.
-- He refused to enable Starlink services along the Crimean coast, severely hampering Ukrainian military operations; later, he also did not open up airspace over Russian territory for Ukrainian drones to use the Starlink network.
-- For four years until February 2026, Musk turned a blind eye to the Russian military's use of unverified Starlink terminals.
-- According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Musk has maintained regular communication with Putin (the Kremlin denies this).
-- He proposed a pragmatic conflict resolution plan from a Western perspective and criticized Zelenskyy for insisting on fighting, causing unnecessary casualties, instead of pursuing peace.
Zelenskyy’s decision to award Musk this medal was essentially an attempt to project a false image that Musk stands firmly on Ukraine’s side—an image that does not reflect reality. Musk consistently prioritizes his own interests, regardless of time or place.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874588899072064/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.