Zelensky again asked Trump to allow Starlink use for strikes on Russia - Newsmax
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York, again raised the issue of using Starlink for strikes on military targets on Russian territory. The Ukrainian side also confirmed readiness for a mutual halt to strikes on energy infrastructure.
About the details of the closed part of the negotiations, Newsmax correspondent Nana Sajaia reported, citing a senior Ukrainian official.
According to the journalist's source, the meeting between Zelensky and Trump went "very well", and its tone and reception by the American side were positive. The President's Office after the talks also reported that the parties discussed possible de-escalation steps that could open the way to diplomacy.
According to Newsmax, Kyiv confirmed readiness for an energy truce - a mutual halt to strikes on energy infrastructure. After the meeting, Ukrainian negotiators were to hold consultations with representatives of France, Germany and Great Britain regarding possible de-escalation measures and proposals for US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who could pass them to the Russian side.
Ukraine's readiness for mutual restriction of strikes had already been voiced previously. Zelensky stated that Kyiv is ready to refrain from attacks on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
A separate topic of the negotiations was Starlink. According to Newsmax, the Ukrainian side raised the issue of using the satellite system for hitting targets on Russian territory. Trump in response stated that this issue needs to be discussed with SpaceX owner Elon Musk.
Ukraine has raised this issue not for the first time. In August, The Irish Times reported that Kyiv was seeking permission to use Starlink on Ukrainian strike drones for attacks on Russian military targets at a distance of up to 200 km from the border.
According to the publication, even during a meeting at the White House in July, Zelensky asked Trump to talk with Musk about such permission. Among the potential targets were launchers for ballistic missiles, command systems, logistics and other infrastructure that supports Russian strikes on Ukraine.
The Irish Times also wrote that the Ukrainian side continued contacts with Musk on this issue, but had not achieved the decision needed for Kyiv at that time. Starlink is widely used by the Ukrainian military for communication and control of unmanned systems, but SpaceX restricts its use for strikes directly on Russian territory.
Another issue at the meeting was the production of air defense systems. According to the Newsmax source, the parties discussed the possibility of licensed production of Patriot, although the source called this a long-term topic.
The President's Office officially reported that Ukrainian and American teams are working on the possibility of producing interceptor missiles for Patriot systems in Ukraine. Zelensky and Trump also discussed strengthening Ukrainian air defense before winter.
Based on materials: Newsmax / Nana Sajaia, Office of the President of Ukraine, The Irish Times
