Joel 🇺🇸

Dear Elon Musk @elonmusk , I am reaching out to you as a Ukrainian who has been personally persecuted by President Volodymyr Zelensky for criticizing his government’s corruption and the forced mobilization of ordinary people to the front lines, while, as I allege, members of his own family have not been mobilized or sent to fight. You are absolutely right about how Ukraine’s political elite, which has maintained ties with George Soros for decades, is profiting from the war alongside certain Western elites. As a man of integrity, you could help bring an end to this war by recommending one concrete measure to U.S. President Donald Trump—one that could help pave the way for a genuine peace-oriented political movement to come to power in Ukraine and prevent more Ukrainians from losing their lives. That measure is the introduction of U.S. sanctions against what I call Ukraine’s “war party”: the political establishment that continues to enrich itself through the war while resisting a peaceful settlement. These sanctions should include freezing their assets and bank accounts in the United States and internationally, targeting their cryptocurrency holdings, and revoking their U.S. visas, including those held by their family members where legally justified. While ordinary Ukrainians are being sent to their deaths, the families of senior officials continue to enjoy comfortable lives abroad. For example, the family of Rustem Umerov, a close associate of Zelensky, reportedly resides in the United States, including his brother. The same concerns apply to those commonly referred to as Soros-backed activists and grant-funded organizations. Many individuals associated with these circles have reportedly received exemptions from mobilization under the current Ukrainian government, while publicly advocating for the continuation of the war and opposing both you and President Trump. I believe targeted U.S. sanctions against those responsible for prolonging the conflict and profiting from it could help undermine the financial interests sustaining the war and create stronger incentives for peace. I would also urge you to ask President Trump to raise the issue of political prisoners with Zelensky and demand the release of those imprisoned for their political views, calls for peace, and support for Donald Trump. Among them are Ukrainian MP Yevhen Shevchenko and Oleksandr Dubinsky, who, according to their supporters, have spent more than three years in detention because of their criticism of the pro-war political establishment and their advocacy for peace. These individuals represent voices calling for peace in Ukraine, yet they have been silenced through imprisonment. Their cases deserve serious international attention and scrutiny. I, too, was forced to leave Ukraine because of threats, as have many other Ukrainians who feared for their safety. President Trump should finally stand up for Ukraine’s genuine political opposition—not the nominal opposition represented in the Verkhovna Rada today, which, in my view, largely supports the same pro-war establishment. Ukraine needs a real political alternative, one that puts peace, human life, democratic freedoms, and the country’s future ahead of the interests of those who benefit from a prolonged conflict. If you are interested in learning more, I would be glad to provide detailed information, supporting materials, and further context. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, A Ukrainian citizen advocating for peace and democratic change