US special envoy to Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg meets Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, between Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, February 20, 2025.
Thomas Peter | Duddy
US negotiators, suppressing KYIV for access to Ukrainian critical minerals, have raised the possibility of cutting the country’s entry into the Elon Musk of Starlink’s life system, three sources familiar with the issue have said Reuters.
The constant Ukrainian access to Starlink owned by Spacex was discussed between US and Ukrainian officials after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected an initial proposal by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, sources said.
Starlink provides important internet links with the war -torn Ukraine and its army.
The case arose again on Thursday during meetings between Keith Kellogg, Ukrainian special envoy to the US and Zelenskiy, said one of the sources, who was informed of the talks.
During the meeting, Ukraine was told that he faced the close closure of the service if he did not reach an agreement on critical minerals, said the source, who sought anonymity to discuss closed negotiations.
“Ukraine goes to Starlink. They consider her their northern star,” the source said. “Loss of Starlink … would be a massive blow.”
Zelenskiy has rejected the demands of President Donald Trump’s administration for $ 500 billion in Ukraine’s mineral assets to repay Washington for wartime assistance, saying the US has not provided specific security guarantees.
On Friday, the Ukrainian President said the US and Ukrainian teams were working on a deal and Trump said he expects a deal to be signed soon.
Musk has hurried thousands of Starlink terminals in Ukraine to replace Russian -destroyed communication services after its conquest in February 2022. Greeting as a hero in Ukraine, Musk later limited the entrance at least once in the fall of 2022 after he became more critical of dealing with the Kyiv war.
US lawmakers are divided on Trump’s efforts to find a rapid end of the Ukraine war, and some have raised questions about Musk’s rapid efforts to overcome thousands of federal workers and to close federal agencies.
Melinda Haring, a senior collaborator in the Atlantic Council, said Starlink was essential for the functioning of Ukraine’s drones, a major pillar of its military strategy.
“The loss of Starlink would be a player of the game,” Haring said, pointing out that Ukraine was now in equality 1: 1 with Russia in terms of drone and artillery shells. Ukraine has a wide range of different drone skills, ranging from sea drones and supervision drones to unmanned air vehicles.
The Ukraine Embassy in Washington, the White House and the US Defense Department did not immediately respond to a comment request.
Spacex, who operates Starlink, also did not respond immediately to a comment request.
Last fall, Ukraine sailed the idea of opening its minerals critical for investment by the Allies. This was part of a “victory plan” that sought to put it in the strongest position for talks and force Moscow to the table.
Trump has embraced the idea, saying he wants Ukraine to supply the US with rare land and other minerals in exchange for the financial support of its war efforts.
Zelenskiy rejected a detailed SH.BA proposal last week that would have seen Washington and US firms receiving 50% of critical Ukrainian minerals, which include graphite, uranium, titanium and lithium, a key ingredient in electric car batteries.
Since then a rift has come out among the leaders, with Trump denouncing Zelenskiy as “an unleashing dictator” on Wednesday after Zelenskiy said Trump was trapped in a Russian misinformation bubble, a response to the US president suggesting that Ukraine began the war.