President Vladimir Putin said Russia is keeping in close contact with its American partners, including SpaceX's Elon Musk, to ensure satellites do not interfere with one another in orbit. (Sputnik/EPA Images pic)MOSCOW: US tech tycoon Elon Musk is "truly a genius" for deploying thousands of satellites into orbit, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday, as Moscow seeks to develop its own satellite internet network.

The American tech titan is the owner of SpaceX, that launches rockets for Nasa and runs the Starlink communications network.

Russia, a spacefaring power, has long sought to develop its own satellite internet constellation for both civilian and military use.

Putin's comments come amid a spat between Ukraine and the United States over access to Starshield, a military-grade satellite network powered by Musk's SpaceX.