Putin's Special Envoy: "Will Discuss Prospects for Space Cooperation with Musk"

"I Want to Develop Rare Earth Metals with U.S. Companies"

A special envoy of the Russian president involved in negotiations with the United States hinted at a meeting with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. He stated that he plans to discuss prospects for cooperation in the space sector with Musk in the near future.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Photo by TASS and Yonhap News.

On the 18th (local time), TASS news agency reported that Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), told reporters at a meeting of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs that "he will discuss with Musk in the near future." Dmitriev is President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for overseas investment and economic cooperation.

He sought ways to cooperate with the United States in the space sector alongside Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), and expressed willingness to discuss this field with the U.S.

In particular, he said he would discuss cooperation plans with Musk, who owns the American space development company SpaceX, including flights to Mars. He also praised Musk as a "unique leader who aims to advance humanity."

He expressed a desire to develop rare earth metals deposited in Russia together with American companies. In this regard, President Putin also mentioned last month that Russia is ready to jointly develop rare earths with the United States.

Dmitriev said, "Russia is open to U.S. partners investing in (rare earth) deposits," adding, "Economic dialogues are ongoing, but they are not in the form of specific short-term projects. It is a format to discuss areas that could be mutually beneficial."

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