Elon Musk Pledges to Keep Starlink Online in Ukraine

Billionaire Elon Musk has vowed to maintain Starlink satellite internet services in Ukraine, just a day after warning of the potential consequences if the network were disconnected.

"Starlink will never disable its terminals, no matter how much I disagree with Ukraine’s policies," Musk wrote on X on March 9.

His statement referenced an earlier remark that "Ukraine’s front line would collapse if Starlink were disconnected," which he clarified was a warning about Russia’s ability to jam all other communications outside the system. "We will never do that or use it as a bargaining chip," Musk added.

Musk’s comments came after a heated online exchange with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, drawing in U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"The Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs pays about $50 million per year to keep Starlink running for Ukraine. Beyond the ethical concerns of threatening war victims, we will have to seek another provider if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable partner," Sikorski warned.

Musk fired back: "Stop this nonsense. You’re only covering a small fraction of the cost, and there is no alternative to Starlink."

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio then criticized the Polish minister, calling his remarks "made up."

"No one has threatened to cut off Ukraine’s Starlink access. Say thank you, because without it, Ukraine would have lost long ago, and Russian forces would already be at Poland’s border," Rubio wrote.

The Role of Starlink in Ukraine

Starlink, developed by Musk’s company SpaceX, has been a crucial asset for Ukraine since the early days of the conflict. Musk initially sent thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine after Russian attacks crippled traditional communication networks in February 2022.

However, the service has faced interruptions, most notably in the fall of 2022 when Musk criticized Ukraine’s handling of the war. Reuters previously reported that access to Starlink had been raised as a point of discussion between Washington and Kyiv after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to sign a mineral rights agreement with the U.S.

U.S.-Russia Ties Improve as Ukraine Faces Pressure

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump and his administration have intensified efforts to end the Ukraine war—a promise Trump repeatedly made during his campaign. Trump has held direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and initiated negotiations between Washington and Moscow, excluding Ukraine and European allies.

While U.S.-Russia relations have seen signs of improvement, Washington’s relationship with Kyiv has soured. Tensions peaked on February 28 during a public confrontation between Trump and Zelensky at the White House.

In early March, the Trump administration ramped up pressure on Ukraine, announcing a suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing until Zelensky demonstrates a clear commitment to peace negotiations.

(Sources: AFP, Reuters)

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