Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy got into a Twitter argument after Musk proposed a poll to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Elon Musk's draft resolution was also condemned by some social media users, while others accused him of supporting the Russian invasion.
Following Musk's social media suggestion for peace, a number of fabricated photos attributed to Musk and Tesla began to circulate online.
Elon Musk's Ukraine-Russia Peace Plan Proposal
Elon Musk later tweeted on Monday that the United Nations should oversee new elections in the four Ukrainian regions that Russia recently seized in order to ensure peace. He also proposed allowing Russia to keep control of the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized in 2014. As a response to Russia's partial mobilization of reservists, he said Ukraine should adopt a neutral stance and abandon its NATO application.
Musk emphasized that Crimea, which is strategically important for its access to the Black Sea, was once a part of Russia before being handed over to Ukraine by the Soviet Union in the 1950s. He believed that a protracted conflict would not result in a decisive Ukrainian victory.
Reactions to Elon Musk’s Proposal
Many social media users criticized Elon Musk's peace plan, while others accused him of being pro-Russian. False information about Musk's purported peace plan was also widely disseminated.
A Twitter user posted a photoshopped image of Elon Musk wearing a military Russian uniform with the caption, "Il maggiore generale Igor Musk."
The fabricated photo originally depicted Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, the Russian Federation's Ministry of Defence's chief spokesperson.
Another widely shared image shows a Tesla vehicle parked in front of Russia's ornate cultural center in St Petersburg, with the letter "Z" clearly visible on the door. "Elon Musk revealed newest design," the caption reads.
The letter "Z" on the car's door has been digitally altered, as seen in the original photo below.
Another Twitter user posted a photo of a Tesla car colliding with a bus, claiming Musk used cheap aluminum. The caption for the photo reads, "Enron Musk wants to keep sourcing cheap aluminum from Russia without any pesky sanctions getting in the way."
The photo was taken in June 2020, and it has been digitally altered to include the word "Tezla."
Fake News Linked to Musk
For years, Elon Musk has been the victim of misinformation.
This is not the first time a photoshopped photo or statement purportedly from Musk has gone viral online.
Misbar has debunked numerous fabricated claims attributed to Musk.
Misbar’s Sources
