Elon Musk participated in a telephone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President-elect Donald Trump after his electoral victory, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP on Friday (November 8).

“I confirm it,” the presidential official, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP, saying the claims by the US news site Axios about Wednesday’s call were accurate.

Musk, the world’s richest man, played a major role in the Republican campaign, spending more than $110 million of his fortune to help get elected. Trump has said he wants to include Musk in some form of advisory role in his next administration.

His presence during an official call underlines his close ties with the next American president.

Another senior Ukrainian source told AFP that Musk was physically present alongside Trump during the call.

Musk “wasn’t on the line, Trump gave him the phone. They were together somewhere,” the source said.

Zelensky “thanked him (Musk) for the Starlinks, they spoke briefly,” the source said, referring to satellite internet devices used by Ukrainian troops in their fight against a Russian invasion.

“But the main conversation was of course with Trump,” the source added, while clarifying that he and Zelensky “didn’t discuss anything substantial, it was just a greeting conversation.”

Zelensky said earlier that he and Trump shared an “excellent” call, during which he congratulated the Republican on his “huge victory” and they agreed to “maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation.”

He didn’t mention speaking to Musk.

Contacted by AFP, Trump’s team refused to confirm the Tesla boss’s participation in the call, saying they would not discuss private conversations.

Axios reported, citing two sources, that the call lasted about 25 minutes and left Zelensky somewhat reassured by what he heard from Trump, without elaborating.

Zelensky said after the call that “strong and unwavering American leadership” under Trump was “vital” for a “just peace.”

Trump has repeatedly boasted that he could end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours and criticized U.S. aid to kyiv in its fight against Russia.

Washington has been a key military backer of Ukraine, and many in Ukraine fear that Trump will not extend the same level of support — or that he might back a peace deal to Russia’s advantage.

Zelensky said Thursday it would be “unacceptable” for Europe to offer the Kremlin concessions to end its invasion of Ukraine after Moscow demanded the West begin direct negotiations to end the war .

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised President Trump as “courageous” for his handling of an assassination attempt at a rally in July, and said he was “ready” for talks with him.

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