US negotiators are pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine’s critical minerals and have mentioned the possibility of cutting off Ukraine’s access to Starlink satellite internet system owned by Elon Musk. Starlink provides crucial internet connectivity to war-torn Ukraine and its military. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned down an initial proposal from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, which led to discussions about Starlink access. There were recent meetings between U.S. special Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg and Zelenskyy where the issue was raised again, with Ukraine being warned of an imminent shutdown of the service if a deal on critical minerals was not reached.
Musk provided thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Losing Starlink would be a significant blow to Ukraine’s military operations, particularly its use of drones. There is a rift between Trump and Zelenskyy over demands for mineral wealth from Ukraine in exchange for financial support in their war effort. Trump has denounced Zelenskyy, while Zelenskyy has rejected the demands for minerals. Despite tensions, negotiations for an agreement are ongoing.
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