Key facts
- President Volodymyr Zelensky said Elon Musk may reconsider allowing Starlink use over Russian territory.
- Musk previously denied this access, citing concerns about escalation.
- Zelensky believes Starlink use over Russia could counter Russian military capabilities.
- Ukrainian forces have successfully used Starlink-enabled drones over Russian-occupied territory.
- There was an alleged miscommunication involving Musk, Donald Trump, and Ukraine's Defense Ministry regarding Starlink approval for use over Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Elon Musk might reconsider his opposition to allowing Ukraine to use SpaceX's Starlink internet service over Russian territory. Zelensky indicated that further arguments could persuade the tech mogul, who had previously cited escalation concerns for denying such access.
According to Zelensky, providing Starlink to Ukraine for use over Russian territory could diminish Russia's ability to prolong the conflict. Starlink, when integrated with drones, offers high-speed, jam-resistant communications crucial for battlefield operations. Ukrainian forces have reportedly achieved success using Starlink-enabled drones over Russian-occupied areas, particularly for striking logistics routes.
Zelensky recounted an alleged miscommunication involving Musk, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and U.S. President Donald Trump. He suggested that Fedorov had initially secured Musk's approval for Starlink use over Russia, which was then purportedly endorsed by Trump, only for Musk to later deny the approval, causing a setback in relations with the White House.
Despite this, Zelensky expressed optimism, noting ongoing talks with Musk and receiving more encouraging feedback. He suggested that discreet discussions might yield results. Meanwhile, Russia is reportedly developing its own satellite internet network, Rassvet, though it is not yet comparable to Starlink's capabilities.