Choose your fighter: Elon Musk is 'absolutely serious' about challenging Vladimir Putin to a duel over Ukraine
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to a bout of "single combat" with Ukraine on the line.
"I hereby challenge Владимир Путин (Vladimir Putin) to single combat," the SpaceX founder and CEO tweeted on Mar. 14. "Stakes are Україна (Ukraine)."
In the next tweets, Musk would tag the official account of the Russian president, asking, "Do you agree to this fight?" in Russian.
I hereby challenge
Владимир Путин
to single combat
Stakes are Україна— Elona Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022
The billionaire even said he is "absolutely serious" about the callout, even saying it would be "an honor" if Putin agreed to the showdown. He also boasted about managing "to throw a world champion sumo wrestler" in the past, which he admits, screwed up his back.
While Putin himself hasn't responded to Musk's challenge, the tech CEO was answered by Russian space chief Dmitry Rogozin.
"You, little devil, are still young, too weak to compete with me. It would only be a waste of time. Overtake my brother first," Rogozin wrote, quoting Russian Poet Alexander Pushkin.
Musk hilariously retorted, "I see you are a tough negotiator! Ok, you can have 10% more pay per view money." He tweeted this with a photo of a shirtless Putin riding a bear and the Tesla CEO wielding a flamethrower with the tagline, "Choose your fighter."
I see you are a tough negotiator!
— Elona Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2022
Ok, you can have 10% more pay per view money. pic.twitter.com/Nrbkz9IsTP
He even said that the Russian leader "can even bring his bear" to the challenge.
Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov also responded to Musk's tweets via Telegram, as per the tech CEO's post on Twitter.
"Don't measure your strength against that of Putin's You are in two completely different leagues... Vladimir will look unsportsmanlike when he beats the hell out of you, a much weaker opponent," the message read.
Kadyrov continued to mock Musk, calling him "effeminate Elona" and proposed that the tech billionaire should train under the Chechen Republic.
Telegram post by Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Chechen Republic! pic.twitter.com/UyByR9kywq
— Elona Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2022
"Thank you for the offer, but such excellent training would give me too much of an advantage," Musk answered on Mar. 16. "If he is afraid to fight, I will agree to use only my left hand and I am not even left-handed."
The billionaire would then change his Twitter name to "Elona."
Musk's challenge comes amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine wherein several cities of the latter country have been bombed.