Elon Musk's tweets on how to end Ukraine war sparks controversy; Zelensky responds

Elon Musk may ('may' being the keyword) be good at several things, after all, he's the world's richest man. But netizens think he should just stick to manufacturing Teslas and cut down on tweeting about serious world issues like the Ukraine war.

Tesla boss Elon Musk's Twitter polls on how to end the war in Ukarine has sparked a lot of controversy. Now, the war is being fought on Twitter - like everything else that happens in Musk's life - with Twitter poll questions asking random strangers on the internet to vote on the fate of a country of 4.41 crore people. 

The story in a nutshell: So, Elon Musk, being Elon Musk on Twitter, has p**sed off a lot of people, perhaps an entire country - Ukraine, its leaders, and their allies. His tweets prompted equally scathing replies from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, other Ukrainian leaders, the Lithuanian President, other allies and netizens. 

So, what did Elon Musk say? Musk fired off some tweets stating his opinion about the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war while calling for "peace" and an end to humans dying in the war. 

• He asked Ukraine to be "neutral" over Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia since 2014 and remains under their control. 

Ukraine-Russia Peace:

- Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is will of the people.

- Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev’s mistake).

- Water supply to Crimea assured.

- Ukraine remains neutral.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022

• He also asked Crimea to be "formally" part of Russia.
• Musk suggested that there did be UN-supervised elections in annexed areas of Ukraine and both sides accept the will of the people, whatever it may be.  
• He later posted another more concise and precise Twitter poll question asking netizens to decide whether "the will of the people who live in Donbas and Crimea should decide whether they're part of Russia or Ukraine".

Let’s try this then: the will of the people who live in the Donbas & Crimea should decide whether they’re part of Russia or Ukraine

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022

• It all started with Elon Musk replying to a tweet by the Pope calling for a ceasefire by Russia.

War always gives ample reason for vengeance for all sides. Only by overcoming this instinct can there be peace.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 2, 2022

What is Elon Musk's reasoning? Elon Musk explained that he wants the war and human suffering to end. And the suggestions he made were the only way it could be achieved. 

• He also warned that the ongoing war could be headed towards a nuclear war. 

Russia is doing partial mobilization. They go to full war mobilization if Crimea is at risk. Death on both sides will be devastating.

Russia has >3 times population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022

What was the reaction? Safe to say that a LOT of people were unhappy with the world's richest man, with his massive influence, making comments about what should be the fate of a country and its people, that too over Twitter. 

• Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted his own Twitter poll asking netizens whether they would prefer a Elon Musk who supports Ukraine, or the one who supports Russia. 

Which @elonmusk do you like more?

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 3, 2022

• Elon Musk replied to Zelensky's tweet saying that he's very much pro-Ukraine and that he's convinced that any more escalation will only bring harm to the country and the world at large. 

I still very much support Ukraine, but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022

• Mykhaylo Podolyak, the adviser to the Head of the Office of Ukrainian President, posted his own Twitter poll question, tipping the tables in Ukraine's side.

.@elonmusk there is a better peace plan.

1. 🇺🇦 liberates its territories. Including the annexed Crimea.

2. 🇷🇺 undergoes demilitarization and mandatory denuclearization so it can no longer threaten others.

3. War criminals go through international tribunal.

Let’s vote?

— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) October 3, 2022

• Ukraine's outgoing envoy to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, had a more not-so-diplomatic reply to Musk. 

Fuck off is my very diplomatic reply to you @elonmusk

— Andrij Melnyk (@MelnykAndrij) October 3, 2022

• Ukraine's ally Lithuania's President gave his own piece of mind to Elon Musk. 

Dear @elonmusk, when someone tries to steal the wheels of your Tesla, it doesn't make them legal owner of the car or of the wheels. Even though they claim both voted in favor of it. Just saying. https://t.co/0eEjCydqu1

— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) October 3, 2022

• Netizens also hit back at Musk asking him to stick to manufacturing Teslas. 

Elon, I strongly recommend you stick to manufacturing Teslas. You are a great engineer and a technological visionary. Let’s end it here

— eFashionFairy (@eFashionFairy) October 4, 2022

Starlink and Ukraine: The argument on Twitter also mentioned how Elon Musk setting up Starlink terminals in Ukraine helped the country in its time of need. 
Busting some myths about who paid for the installations, Musk said that much of the costs were given out of the company's pockets and the US government only paid a small percentage of the costs. 

• His supporters also used this deed to argue that Musk is NOT pro-Russian. 

SpaceX’s out of pocket cost to enable & support Starlink in Ukraine is ~$80M so far. Our support for Russia is $0. Obviously, we are pro Ukraine.

Trying to retake Crimea will cause massive death, probably fail & risk nuclear war. This would be terrible for Ukraine & Earth.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022

But some questions beg to be answered, based on Musk's logic:

• Is Elon Musk so naïve to think that Russia will simply accept the outcome of UN-supervised (or any other neutral country-supervised) elections in disputed territories if it doesn't go in its favour? 
• Will Russia really stop invasion and attacks if Ukraine gives Crimea to it?
• Will Russia never wage a war ever again on another sovereign state if all its conditions are met now during the Ukraine war? 

It needs to be noted that there are a lot of reasons why Russia invaded Ukraine, and the alleged presence of pro-Russian residents in Ukraine is not the only one. Putin is waging a war for his own domestic gains, to boost his popularity at home, and for several more reasons.