US threatens to shut off Starlink if Ukraine won't sign minerals deal

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Editor's Note: This story has been updated with Elon Musk's denial of the Reuters report.

The United States has threatened to cut off Ukraine's access to Starlink satellite internet terminals if Kyiv does not reach a deal with the U.S. regarding critical mineral resources, Reuters reported on Feb. 21, citing three sources familiar with the negotiations.

On Feb. 22, Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk denied reports that the United States threatened to shut off Starlink in Ukraine unless Kyiv agreed to a minerals deal.

U.S. and Ukrainian officials are currently negotiating the terms of a revised minerals deal after President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to sign an initial proposal. U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier on Feb. 21 that the parties are "pretty close" to an agreement.

U.S. negotiators have warned that Ukraine would lose access to Starlink terminals, owned by billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX, if Kyiv did not sign the deal, sources told Reuters.

Starlink internet terminals have played a crucial role in securing communications in the war in Ukraine. Last year, Ukraine said that approximately 42,000 terminals were in operation across the military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations.

Washington first raised the prospect of shutting off Starlink service after Zelensky rejected the deal presented by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Feb. 12, sources said. The deal reportedly sought a 50% stake in Ukraine's natural resources, including critical minerals, oil, and gas, without offering Ukraine any concrete security guarantees.

The Starlink threat came up again in talks with U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, who met with Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials in Kyiv on Feb. 20.

A source told Reuters that the loss of Starlink access would be devastating for Ukraine.

"Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star," the source said.

"Losing Starlink ... would be a massive blow."

SpaceX began providing Starlink terminals to Ukraine shortly after the full-scale invasion, giving Kyiv a crucial communications advantage on the battlefield. Since then, however, Musk has grown increasingly vocal in criticizing Ukraine.

Musk, who Trump has tasked with eliminating "fraud" and "waste" from the government budget, has called for shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an organization that provides vital humanitarian aid to Ukraine. He has also amplified Russian disinformation and mocked Zelensky for calling Ukraine an independent country.

Trump also began lashing out at Zelensky after he refused to sign the minerals deal. He's questioned Zelensky's legitimacy as president and claimed he's not important to peace negotiations with Russia.

Trump said in early February that he wanted to strike a deal with Ukraine involving access to rare earth minerals in exchange for continued U.S. aid. Trump later claimed that Kyiv has "essentially agreed" to a $500 billion resource deal.

The contents of the revised agreement currently under discussion have not been disclosed. Trump claimed on Feb. 21 that Ukraine was "very happy" with the deal and that the U.S. would "get our money back."

https://kyivindependent.com/us-threatens-to-shut-off-starlink-if-ukraine-wont-sign-minerals-deal-sources-tell-reuters/

[The San Diegan]

Read this this morning and reflexively wanted to cunt punt Elon Musk across the border.

[tailingpermit]

Just give Zelensky a bag of cash and let him ride off into the sunset. 

[azgreg]

There's A word for this.

[CoachKenFTW]

Ukraine should pay its fair share.

[happycamper]

On 2/22/2025 at 10:24 PM, CoachKenFTW said:

Ukraine should pay its fair share.

I think a mobilized economy as well as hundreds of thousands of dead is certainly their fair share

[Akkula]

On 2/22/2025 at 9:24 PM, CoachKenFTW said:

Ukraine should pay its fair share.

Poland reacts to alleged US threat to cut off Starlink for Ukraine | RBC-Ukraine

"Poland acquired Starlink, which it transferred to Ukraine. We are paying and will continue to pay a subscription fee for satellite internet for Ukraine. I can't imagine how anyone could decide to terminate a commercial agreement for a service to which Poland is a party," Gawkowski wrote.

[CoachKenFTW]

Pay your fair share, Zelensky!

[CoachKenFTW]

On 2/23/2025 at 8:19 AM, Akkula said:

Poland reacts to alleged US threat to cut off Starlink for Ukraine | RBC-Ukraine

"Poland acquired Starlink, which it transferred to Ukraine. We are paying and will continue to pay a subscription fee for satellite internet for Ukraine. I can't imagine how anyone could decide to terminate a commercial agreement for a service to which Poland is a party," Gawkowski wrote.

How much has the Latin American country where you lived contributed to Ukraine's military?

[InnZoneU]

On 2/23/2025 at 8:19 AM, Akkula said:

Poland reacts to alleged US threat to cut off Starlink for Ukraine | RBC-Ukraine

"Poland acquired Starlink, which it transferred to Ukraine. We are paying and will continue to pay a subscription fee for satellite internet for Ukraine. I can't imagine how anyone could decide to terminate a commercial agreement for a service to which Poland is a party," Gawkowski wrote.

First lady Donald is using POTUS Elmo as a cudgel and it's extremely obvious.  As soon as shit goes sideways after all this grossly illegal overreach, guess who Donald is throwing under the bus?

And I doubt we'll ever see Elmo's little demon spawn around the WH ever again.  The "You're not the President" remark probably hit real hard.

[AlpineSummer]

On 2/23/2025 at 9:39 AM, CoachKenFTW said:

Pay your fair share, Zelensky!

I heard he's a Jew. 

[halfmanhalfbronco]

On 2/23/2025 at 5:31 PM, AlpineSummer said:

I heard he's a Jew. 

Jeebus

[halfmanhalfbronco]

On 2/23/2025 at 9:39 AM, CoachKenFTW said:

Pay your fair share, Zelensky!

The value of Starlink as an asset for global security was proven in this war.  Ukraine would have been conquered a long time ago without it. 

That proof is worth hundreds of billions to Musk.  Literally.  

It's revenues have increased 95% in just the last year.  

It's power is now a proven asset.  Russia can't break it.  China can't break it.  It's flexibility means we can keep any country online, despite other global powers and their actions.  

The value that Musk has received for this, is astronomical.  

Restricting it's use or halting it in Ukraine would fucking tank that.

[AlpineSummer]

On 2/23/2025 at 6:33 PM, halfmanhalfbronco said:

Jeebus

They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore. 

R.I.P. Kinky Friedman. 

[halfmanhalfbronco]

On 2/23/2025 at 7:45 PM, AlpineSummer said:

They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore. 

R.I.P. Kinky Friedman. 

Make Jews Great Again?

Fuck we are going to hell.

[AlpineSummer]

On 2/23/2025 at 7:47 PM, halfmanhalfbronco said:

Make Jews Great Again?

Fuck we are going to hell.

Salvation is from the Jews.  John 4:22

 

[CoachKenFTW]

On 2/23/2025 at 5:43 PM, halfmanhalfbronco said:

The value of Starlink as an asset for global security was proven in this war.  Ukraine would have been conquered a long time ago without it. 

That proof is worth hundreds of billions to Musk.  Literally.  

It's revenues have increased 95% in just the last year.  

It's power is now a proven asset.  Russia can't break it.  China can't break it.  It's flexibility means we can keep any country online, despite other global powers and their actions.  

The value that Musk has received for this, is astronomical.  

Restricting it's use or halting it in Ukraine would fucking tank that.

You could have saved a lot of time by posting "Tesla Man Bad"

[halfmanhalfbronco]

On 2/23/2025 at 7:55 PM, CoachKenFTW said:

You could have saved a lot of time by posting "Tesla Man Bad"

uh, no?

I think Tesla Man is complicated but has been an absolute net good.

Without Tesla Man, there is no Ukraine.  Period.  End of story.  No Musk?  Ukraine is fucking not a thing, or a hell hole we can not imagine.  Period.

Without Musk, Russia would have ran through Ukraine 33 months ago and probably captured Kyiv.

Tesla man scares me with influence and "break shit cus lulz and it will still probably work out" effort.  

[Sactowndog]

On 2/23/2025 at 5:43 PM, halfmanhalfbronco said:

The value of Starlink as an asset for global security was proven in this war.  Ukraine would have been conquered a long time ago without it. 

That proof is worth hundreds of billions to Musk.  Literally.  

It's revenues have increased 95% in just the last year.  

It's power is now a proven asset.  Russia can't break it.  China can't break it.  It's flexibility means we can keep any country online, despite other global powers and their actions.  

The value that Musk has received for this, is astronomical.  

Restricting it's use or halting it in Ukraine would fucking tank that.

Except with Trump and Elon everyone outside of the U.S. will believe they used every bit of leverage they could.  I would expect Europe to try to develop their own competitors.  

[azgreg]

https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/1893679577630679368

Quote

For the first time, Zelensky revealed details of the financial aid agreement from the United States "If the United States, our friendly partners, vote in Congress to give us $50 billion in aid, we are obliged to return $100 billion. I have a question that no one can honestly answer for me. When the United States sells arms to Israel, Qatar, the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, do they ask them for a 100% surcharge? I'm not signing something that 10 generations of Ukrainians are going to pay later."