Tech billionaire Elon Musk has confirmed that he will not cut off Ukraine’s access to his Starlink internet service, despite disagreements with Kyiv. Musk’s comments come after a heated exchange with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who suggested that Poland might seek alternative suppliers if Starlink proves to be unreliable.
The Starlink internet service, which is paid for by the Polish Digitization Ministry at a cost of about $50 million per year, has been crucial for Ukraine in repelling Russia’s invasion. Musk has claimed that without Starlink, Ukraine’s front line would collapse.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Musk against Sikorski’s claims, stating that no threats have been made to cut off Ukraine from Starlink. Musk himself responded to Sikorski, dismissing his comments and insisting that Starlink will not be turned off.
Following reports that US negotiators had raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to Starlink, Musk clarified that he would not use the service as a bargaining chip and stressed its importance in maintaining communication for Ukraine.
Despite recent challenges, including the pause on military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, US officials are working towards diplomatic breakthroughs to end the conflict. Trump has expressed optimism about upcoming talks with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia and hopes for a ceasefire and peace agreement in the near future.
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