Putin Incentivizes Space Investors After Elon Musk's Russia Asylum Floated

Newsweek

6 hours ago

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Private investment is needed to boost Russia's space industry, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. His comments come as a lawmaker in Russia floated the idea of offering political asylum to Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX.
Dmitry Novikov, from Russia's international affairs committee, suggested Musk could be given asylum in Russia, following his public fallout with President Donald Trump, although there has been no confirmation of any formal offer being made.
Putin asked the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, Dmitry Bakanov, about how to attract financial backers because of the need "to commercialize services."
Newsweek has contacted Roscosmos for comment.
File photo: Vladimir Putin sits with a pen on June 6, 2025 during a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects.
File photo: Vladimir Putin sits with a pen on June 6, 2025 during a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects.Why It Matters
As part of its space strategy, Russia is looking to create its equivalent of the satellite system of Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, which Musk heads.
Musk's relationship with Trump continues to unravel, but there is no suggestion yet that he would fund such a Russian venture. However, Putin's call for private investment in a key strategic sector comes as the country has lost access to many Western technologies due to sanctions caused by the war he started.
What To Know
Putin has previously raised the need to attract nongovernmental funds for Russia's space sector.
At a meeting of Russia's Council for Strategic Development and National Projects, the president asked Bakanov when private money will start flowing into Russia's space industry, news agency Tass reported Friday.
As other countries use private funding for the space sector, Putin said investors in Russia's program would need to see how they can get a return on their money as he emphasized the need to commercialize such services.
Bakanov responded that Russia's space projects included developing the "Rassvet" group, which will become the country's equivalent to Starlink in providing communications services, TASS reported.
Another plan is the Russia selling high-resolution satellite images from 2026, for which a regulatory framework has already been set up.
Bakanov had previously said Russia plans to launch over 1,000 satellites—including 886 for the "Rassvet" internet constellation—and would deploy more than 100 satellites in orbit to control drones, the publication Izvestia reported.
Putin's comments coincide with the idea floated by Novikov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma's international affairs committee, that Musk could be granted asylum in Russia, although he added that the SpaceX founder is unlikely to need it.
Moscow has previously granted asylum to U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden, as well as the pro-Kremlin British blogger Graham Phillips.
When asked to comment on the spat between Musk and Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "a domestic issue of the United States, and we don't intend to interfere."
What People Are Saying
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on private funding Russia's space sector: "As long as the business does not have an understanding of how the invested money will be returned, there will be no movement."
Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma's International Affairs Committee, said: "If (Musk) he did [need political asylum], of course, Russia could offer it."
What Happens Next
Putin has called for "regulatory documents" to be prepared for private funding of the space sector, although no time frame has been specified, according to Tass.