Conflict with Trump creates new threat to Starlink in Ukraine - Politico
US President Donald Trump may try to force Elon Musk to limit the operation of Starlink satellite communications in Ukraine amid escalating relations with Volodymyr Zelensky. This risk arises just as Kyiv is trying to obtain permission to use Starlink for strikes on military targets on Russian territory, and the owner of SpaceX has publicly supported Trump's criticism of the Ukrainian president.
This threat is discussed in an article by Politico dedicated to the consequences of the conflict between Washington and Kyiv over the US deal with Russia regarding the supply of diesel fuel.
Former British diplomat, expert at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Tim Willasey-Wilsey warned that Trump may try to pressure Musk to disconnect Starlink for the Ukrainian military.
According to the expert, Zelensky's public dissatisfaction with American policy is quite understandable, but further escalation of the conflict creates additional risks for Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Among the possible consequences, he also named the cessation of the transfer of American intelligence data. The Trump administration has previously warned about the possibility of such a step and the suspension of arms sales to Ukraine through the PURL program.
At the same time, a possible Starlink shutdown remains an expert assessment for now. There is no confirmation that Trump has already approached Musk with a corresponding demand or that SpaceX is preparing to limit communications in Ukraine.
Musk supported Trump's criticism of Zelensky
Additional concern is caused by the position of Elon Musk himself, who on October 10 publicly supported the American president in the dispute over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
In response to a video with Trump's statement about the need to stop attacks on Russian refineries, Musk wrote on social network X: "Zelensky went too far".
Later, the entrepreneur also agreed with Trump's call to change the leadership of Ukraine, writing that it was time for the country to get a new leader.
These statements came after Zelensky criticized Washington's decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel fuel. The Ukrainian president called the deal a gift to Putin, which would allow Russia to gain additional revenues to finance the war.
At the same time, Trump demands from Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries, linking them to the rise in diesel prices on the world market. Zelensky insists that Ukraine can agree to a cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure only if Russia acts similarly.
Ukraine still seeks permission to use Starlink in Russia
The current escalation of relations with Trump may further complicate Kyiv's long-standing attempts to expand the geography of Starlink's operation.
Back in July, Zelensky during negotiations at the White House asked the US president to help obtain Musk's consent for the use of the satellite network by Ukrainian strike drones directly on Russian territory.
First of all, it concerns the possibility of destroying mobile launch platforms for ballistic missiles, from which Russian troops attack Ukrainian cities.
Starlink can provide stable communications and data transmission for drones over long distances. However, SpaceX restricts the use of its network on Russian territory, which complicates the use of such systems for strikes deep into the country.
In August, Financial Times reported that Musk discussed this issue with former Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov. According to sources of the publication, the entrepreneur allowed the possibility of using Starlink on Ukrainian strike drones outside Ukraine, but emphasized that the corresponding political decision should be made by the White House.
In September, Zelensky again raised this issue during a meeting with Trump in New York. According to American media reports, the US president replied that permission to use Starlink should be discussed directly with Musk.
Ukraine's initiative was also supported by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who called on Musk to expand the possibilities of using Starlink to destroy Russian launch systems.
However, after Musk's open support for criticism of Zelensky and increased White House pressure, obtaining such permission looks politically more difficult. After all, the decision depends on two sides that are currently openly opposed to the continuation of Ukrainian strikes on part of the Russian energy infrastructure.
Ukraine's dependence on Starlink remains critical
Starlink satellite communications are widely used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine to maintain communications between units, transmit information, and ensure the operation of unmanned systems.
This makes the issue of access to the network particularly important, as disruptions to its operation could negatively affect the operational capabilities of Ukrainian troops.
At the same time, it is necessary to distinguish between two scenarios: possible restriction of existing access to Starlink in Ukraine and refusal to expand its use to Russian territory. The first scenario is considered by a Politico expert as a potential pressure tool for Trump, while the second issue remains unresolved despite repeated appeals from Kyiv.
Thus, the new conflict with Washington may not only jeopardize the satellite infrastructure important for Ukraine but also reduce the chances of gaining access to technologies that Kyiv views as a tool to counter Russian missile strikes.
However, no decision to disconnect Starlink or to ultimately refuse Ukraine in expanding its use has been announced so far.
Based on materials from: Politico, Financial Times, Elon Musk on X