Elon Musk reportedly acknowledged to officials at the Pentagon that he engaged in a direct conversation with Russia's President Vladimir Putin regarding SpaceX's provision of the Starlink internet service to the Ukrainian military. This revelation was made during a conversation in October 2022 between Musk and Colin Kahl, who was then the top policy official at the Pentagon. The discussion centered around the interruption of Starlink service for Ukrainian forces as they advanced into territory disputed by Russia, as per sources cited by the New Yorker.

Colin Kahl, as the Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Pentagon, interacted with Musk following a series of meetings involving representatives from the UK, France, and Germany. Kahl expressed concern about Ukrainian troops experiencing disruptions and severed connectivity of the Starlink internet service while defending their territory against Russian aggression.

Around the same time, Musk had reportedly given the Pentagon an ultimatum. He indicated that unless the United States military funded the annual cost of around four hundred million dollars for the internet service in Ukraine, he would terminate the access. Starlink satellite internet terminals had been a vital means of communication for Ukrainian military operations, including gathering intelligence and maintaining contact via cellular phones when the country's internet networks were disrupted during the conflicts.

Musk, in a tweet, stated that around 20,000 Starlink satellite units had been donated to Ukraine, with the operation incurring expenses exceeding $80 million and projected to exceed $100 million by year-end. He indicated that unless the US military financed costs amounting to tens of millions of dollars, these 'charitable contributions' to Ukraine would cease.

In his conversation with Kahl, Musk voluntarily disclosed that he had personally spoken to Putin in October. Kahl inferred that Musk's motive may have been to address concerns that Starlink's involvement was being perceived as aiding Ukraine's war effort and to appease Russian apprehensions.

In a prior instance, there was a dispute over claims made by Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, that Musk had spoken to President Putin. Musk denied the assertion and clarified that he had spoken to Putin only once, approximately 18 months earlier, and the discussion revolved around space matters.

While the Pentagon has not disclosed specific details about their engagement with Starlink, they acknowledged having contracts with the service for certain requirements. Musk's involvement in international affairs and his interactions with leaders have sparked attention and speculation due to the implications of his statements and decisions on geopolitical dynamics.