Elon Musk is a “real genius”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday after revealing the two are in “close” contact about satellite technology, the BBC reports. The remarks came during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, during which Putin discussed Russia’s own satellite internet project Rassvet, which provides internet connections to people from satellites. “He’s a genius, a real genius,” Putin said of Musk, according to a translation of his remarks by the BBC. “We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr. Musk.” Starlink is part of Musk’s company SpaceX. The company did not respond to a request for comment. Putin added that it was important for Russia to be in contact with Musk so Rassvet and Starlink satellites do not “interfere with each other in orbit”.