Elon Musk: "Zelensky wants a forever war; it's cruel and inhumane"

Elon Musk dropped a bombshell on X earlier today, calling Zelensky’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict a “forever war” and labeling it “cruel and inhumane.”

He didn’t stop there; he suggested that Zelensky should be offered “amnesty in a neutral country” in exchange for stepping aside to allow a “peaceful transition back to democracy in Ukraine.” This wasn’t a one-off rant—Musk has been piling on Zelensky for days, accusing him of corruption, canceling elections to cling to power, and running a “massive graft machine feeding off the dead bodies of Ukrainian soldiers.” Harsh stuff, even for Musk.

The timing’s no coincidence. This comes hot on the heels of a fiery Oval Office clash last Friday, February 28, between Zelensky, President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. That meeting was supposed to kick off talks about a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal but spiraled into a shouting match. Trump and Vance reportedly chewed out Zelensky for not being grateful enough for U.S. support, with Trump later saying Zelensky “disrespected” America and wasn’t ready for peace.

Already yesterday, Trump had paused all military aid to Ukraine, hinting Zelensky “won’t be around long” if he doesn’t negotiate with Russia. Musk’s comments seem to echo Trump’s line, amplifying the pressure on Zelensky.

The broader context here is messy. Russia’s invasion kicked off in February 2022, and Ukraine’s been leaning heavily on U.S. and European support to hold the line. Musk’s no stranger to weighing in—he floated a peace plan back in October 2022, suggesting Ukraine cede Crimea to Russia, stay neutral (no NATO), and hold UN-supervised elections in annexed regions. Zelensky and Ukrainian officials shot that down fast, accusing him of parroting Kremlin talking points. Fast forward to now, and Musk’s doubling down, aligning with Trump’s apparent shift to force Ukraine into talks with Russia, even if it means territorial losses.

Geopolitically, this ties into bigger questions. Trump’s administration, with Vance hinting at backdoor talks with Russia, seems ready to wash its hands of Ukraine unless Kyiv bends. European leaders, spooked by the U.S. pullback, held an emergency summit in the UK yesterday, pledging to “double down” on support for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Musk’s “amnesty” idea raises eyebrows—what neutral country? Switzerland? Qatar? And who’d enforce it? It’s a wild card that’s more provocative than practical, but it’s got people talking about whether Zelensky’s leadership is the linchpin or just a scapegoat in this war.