Washington reportedly considers using the satellite technology as leverage when bargaining about mineral reserves
US officials have warned that they could block Ukraine from using Elon Musk’s Starlink internet terminals if Kiev doesn’t grant access to its critical mineral reserves, Reuters reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the matter.
Musk, a major ally of US President Donald Trump, has donated more than 40,000 internet terminals since 2022, which have been widely used by Ukrainian troops on the battlefield.
According to Reuters, during a meeting between Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, in Kiev on Thursday, the Ukrainians were told that they faced an “imminent shutoff” of Starlink satellite service if they did not sign a deal on critical minerals with the US.
“Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star,” a source told Reuters, adding that losing the service “would be a massive blow.”
In an effort to ensure further military aid from the US, Zelensky has pitched Trump a preferential partnership in developing Ukraine’s resources, including rare-earth minerals. However, he refused to sign an agreement that would have granted the US ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s mineral wealth. “I cannot sell our country,” he said on Wednesday.
Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said that Kiev’s reaction was “unacceptable” and advised Ukrainian officials to “tone it down” and sign the minerals deal.
Both Trump and Musk have ramped up their criticism of Zelensky earlier this week, branding him “a dictator” and claiming that he is deeply unpopular at home. Trump argued that Ukraine was in no position to complain about his decision to restore direct talks with Russia that were suspended by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.
Zelensky acknowledged earlier this month that around half of its rare-earth deposits are “under Russian occupation.” Writing for Bloomberg this week, commodities expert Javier Blas argued that Trump’s expectations from a deal are grossly exaggerated because Ukraine “has no significant rare-earth deposits other than small scandium mines.”
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