Well, President-elect Donald Trump isn’t sitting around waiting for January, that’s for sure. Just days after his victory, he’s already making waves on the world stage, and the global reaction is nothing short of fascinating.

Leaders across the spectrum are adjusting their strategies, reaching out, and, in some cases, bracing for what could be a very different approach in Washington. Israel’s leadership is likely breathing a sigh of relief; Russia’s keeping a close watch; and one can bet that both China and the EU are re-evaluating their next moves.

And then there’s Ukraine. In a call on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump included an unexpected third party: Elon Musk. That’s right, the tech titan, owner of Starlink, and now, possibly, an unexpected player in Trump’s Ukraine strategy. Musk’s presence on the call raises some interesting questions about Trump’s direction in foreign policy and how exactly he plans to handle Ukraine.

Trump’s campaign messages about Ukraine raised plenty of eyebrows. He’s promised to bring the war to a “quick resolution” and openly criticized the volume of U.S. aid being funneled to Kyiv, saying it’s time to prioritize “America’s interests.” Needless to say, Kyiv and much of Europe are keeping a close eye on where this will lead.

Yet during the call, Zelensky reportedly felt some relief, likely in part due to Musk’s assurance that he’ll keep Starlink running for Ukraine, something that has been indispensable to their communications and tactical operations on the ground.

Of course, Musk himself has been unpredictable regarding Ukraine. He’s made it clear he’s not thrilled with the billions in U.S. funds being sent to Ukraine and has previously mocked Zelensky’s ongoing requests for aid. Still, Musk assured Zelensky that Starlink support would continue—certainly something Moscow will take note of. It’s worth remembering that Musk proposed his own peace plan for Ukraine last year, which Zelensky publicly rebuffed. And now here he is, potentially holding a seat at Trump’s diplomatic table.

Then there’s Russian President Vladimir Putin. He’s praised Trump’s “courage” during the attempted assassination in Pennsylvania, noting it “impressed” him. It’s an oddly timed show of respect, just as Trump ramps up his foreign engagement. The Kremlin will be watching this second Trump term closely, especially now that Musk, a wildcard for both sides, seems to be involved.

The big question now is, what role does Trump envision for Musk? Will Musk’s presence be limited to technological support, or is Trump setting up Musk as an unofficial envoy for negotiations? Given Musk’s background, it’s unlikely he’ll be taking on a formal diplomatic position—but that may be exactly the point.

Trump appears to be assembling a team of unconventional actors, outside the typical government apparatus, who can cut through bureaucracy. Musk could offer something to both Ukraine and Russia that traditional diplomats simply can’t.