‘You Seemed Kind And Sincere’: Ex-NASA Astronaut Recalls 2011 Talk With Putin, Urges Him To ‘Stop This Madness’

Former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly voiced his concern over the situation in Ukraine and told the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, that he “can stop this madness”. 

New Delhi: Amid escalating tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly voiced his concern over the situation and urged the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, to "stop this madness”. 

Kelly wrote on Twitter Tuesday that he is afraid for the Ukrainians and for his Russian friends. He said that everyone will lose.

The former NASA astronaut also shared the picture of a Ukrainian woman whose face was severely damaged during an episode of violence in Ukraine. The Ukrainian woman, who is a 53-year-old teacher, is said to have become the face of the war in Ukraine.

Kelly, who is also a retired United States (US) Navy Captain, reminisced a conversation he had with Putin in 2011, from the International Space Station (ISS). The former NASA astronaut said that he spoke with Russia’s President from the orbital laboratory after the wife of Kelly’s brother was shot. 

Addressing Putin, Kelly said, “You seemed kind and sincere and asked what you could do for me.” 

Interestingly, Scott’s brother, Mark Edward Kelly, is also a former NASA astronaut, and a retired US Navy Captain. Scott and Mark are twins.

Mark’s wife, Gabby Giffords, was shot and nearly killed in an assissation attempt on January 8, 2011, in the Tucson metropolitan area. Gillfords, who was a US Representative at that time, resigned from her post due to a severe brain injury she suffered during the assassination attempt. 

Scott Kelly has shown his support for the people of Ukraine and said that he and his Russian friends, including former Russian cosmonauts, despise Putin’s criminal acts. “Standing in support with the people of Ukraine alongside my Russian friends including former cosmonauts who despise Putin’s criminal acts as much as I do,” Kelly wrote on Twitter. 

The former NASA astronaut said that attacking a weaker neighbour is not strong leadership. He wrote that it is “cowardice based on fear and insecurity”.

In order to show his support for Ukraine, Kelly has used an image of a fist, with Ukraine's national flag painted on it, as the profile picture of his Twitter handle.