Washington is reportedly considering using the satellite technology as leverage in 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’s 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 the nation’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 ramped up their criticism of Zelensky earlier this week, branding him “a dictator” and claiming that he is deeply unpopular at home. The US president argued that Ukraine was in no position to complain about his decision to restore direct talks with Russia that were suspended by his predecessor, 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.”
While they are at it they should find the missing billions and all the US weapons sold on the black market.
Ukraine is going to regret its ” ennemy” Russia !!!
Not only Ukraine was used as a proxy to conduct war against a Russia who provided for Ukraine more services than the US and the EU ever provided ( except troubles), but now they are expected to give away , under duress, their much coveted precious minerals. So that the country will be completely deprived of any revenue.
Again the US vulture at work.
Although i have had from the beginning a profound dislike of zelenski and his clique of repugnants nazi, one should not rejoice of such development. Peace is important, but stripping a country of all its assets is criminal
Ukraine is not giving away anything. They are paying the cost of arms, use of technology and equipment like starlink.
But the EU has repayment gaurantees for all the Aid that they provided Ukrain but the US has no such guarantees, they EU is also pushing harder than the US for Ukraine to pursue this war.