Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk maintains he will not terminate Ukraine’s internet service via Starlink despite disputes with Kyiv.
On X, Sikorski hinted that Poland, which covers Ukraine’s Starlink expenses to support its defense against Russia, may seek alternative providers should Musk’s satellite network prove “unreliable.”
This came after Musk, a significant ally of former US President Donald Trump, stated that the Ukrainian military relies heavily on Starlink, implying the front line would crumble without it.
Musk stated, “I have directly challenged Putin to a fight over Ukraine and my Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. If I turned it off, their entire front line would collapse.”
“What I find disturbing is the ongoing slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine is fated to lose.”
Starlinks for Ukraine are funded by Poland’s Ministry of Digitization at a cost of approximately $50 million annually.
Apart from the morality of endangering aggression victims, if SpaceX is unreliable, we will need other suppliers. https://t.co/WaJWCklgPE— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) March 9, 2025
Rubio defended Musk, refuting Sikorski’s allegations and underscoring the importance of Starlink for Ukraine’s war efforts.
“No threats have been made to cut Ukraine from Starlink, and thankfully, without it, Ukraine would’ve lost the war by now and Russians could be at Poland’s border now,” Rubio stated.
Musk retaliated against Sikorski by asserting, “Be quiet, small man. You pay a minuscule fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.”
Last month, Reuters reported that US negotiators discussed cutting Ukraine’s Starlink access while seeking Kyiv’s access to critical minerals.
Despite the dispute, Musk, who leads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, confirmed he won’t deny Ukraine access to Starlink, ensuring the service will continue to support Ukraine’s military and infrastructure.
“Without Starlink, Ukrainian lines would fold as Russians could jam all non-Starlink communication! We would never shut it down or use it as a bargaining chip,” Musk affirmed.
Poland funds around half of the 42,000 Starlink terminals active in Ukraine, which have been vital for maintaining internet connectivity after Russia’s obliteration of Ukraine’s communication networks in February 2022.
Trump last week halted all military aid to Ukraine and paused intelligence sharing with the country, though these measures could be lifted with diplomatic advancements between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Trump indicated on Sunday that the suspension on aid is mostly lifted and anticipates positive outcomes from upcoming talks with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia.
Whether Ukraine is willing to offer concessions to Russia and the status of a minerals agreement between Washington and Kyiv are focal points of these talks.
