Billionaire Elon Musk has baffled the internet after challenging Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin to “single combat”, with the country of Ukraine as the stakes.
Musk has previously joked about sending “space dragons with lasers” to Ukraine to help the country defend itself from the Russian invasion.
He was also thanked by Ukraine for providing the country with internet via SpaceX’s Starlink satellites.
But now, Musk’s interventions in the war have taken a much more direct and personal turn as his request to fight Putin seem worryingly serious.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO made the bizarre proposition in a tweet, writing: “I hereby challenge Владимир Путин [Vladimir Putin] to single combat.
“Stakes are Україна [Ukraine].”
In another tweet, he tagged the official account for the Kremlin, asking in Russian: “Do you agree to this fight?”
The post has unsurprisingly gone viral as people can’t quite believe what it is they are reading.
I hereby challenge\n\u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u041f\u0443\u0442\u0438\u043d \nto single combat\n\nStakes are \u0423\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0430— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1647256162
One person commented: “I need some of what you’re drinking brother.”
I need some of what you\u2019re drinking brother— Travladd Crypto (@Travladd Crypto) 1647256382
Another wrote: “Well this ought to do the trick. Problem solved everyone!”
Well this ought to do the trick. Problem solved everyone!https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1503327421839417344\u00a0\u2026— Daniel W. Drezner (@Daniel W. Drezner) 1647260682
Someone else said: “The idea that the fate/ownership of whole countries is decided by narcissistic powerful men and their egos is disgusting.
“Humanity needs to quickly evolve beyond that.”
The idea that the fate/ownership of whole countries is decided by narcissistic powerful men and their egos is disgusting. Humanity needs to quickly evolve beyond that.https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1503327421839417344\u00a0\u2026— Thomas Wuerthinger (@Thomas Wuerthinger) 1647260524
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Another bemused reader said: “Elon Musk challenging Putin to a fight is proof we're living in a simulation.”
Elon Musk challenging Putin to a fight is proof we're living in a simulationhttps://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1503327421839417344\u00a0\u2026— Mister Flak (@Mister Flak) 1647261517
But, it’s definitely not a simulation, as Musk confirmed he was completely serious about his proposition.
I am absolutely serious— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1647258396
The billionaire appears to have received support from Ukrainian Vitaliy Klitschko, who responded to the tweet with flexed biceps emojis.
Klitschko is a former professional boxer and now serves as the mayor of Kyiv – Ukraine’s capital that is under siege from invading Russian troops.
Others commented saying that Putin, who has a black belt in judo, would easily win. But, Musk begged to differ, saying Putin won’t take on the challenge.
If Putin could so easily humiliate the west, then he would accept the challenge.\n\nBut he will not.— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1647260646
He argued: “If Putin could so easily humiliate the west, then he would accept the challenge.
“But he will not.”
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