American negotiators who press Kyiv to reach Ukraine’s monetary minerals have increased access to the vital Starline Satellite Internet system from Elon Musk, three sources familiar with Reuters said.
The sources said that the continued arrival of Ukraine to the space -owned Starlink in discussions between the United States and Ukrainian officials after Ukrainian President Foludmir Zelinsky refused a preliminary proposal from US Treasury Secretary Scott Pessant.
Starlink provides a decisive internet connection to the war -torn Ukraine.
One of the sources informed in the talks said this case was raised again on Thursday during the meetings between Keith Keel, a Ukraine’s private envoy in the United States, and Zelinski, who was informed of the talks.
During the meeting, Ukraine was informed that it faced an imminent closure of the service if it did not reach an agreement on critical minerals, as the source said, who asked not to be identified to discuss closed negotiations.
“Ukraine is working on Starlink. The source said,” They are considered the Northern Star. “” Loss of Starlink … will be a huge blow. “
Zelenskyy rejected the administration of President Donald Trump’s administration of $ 500 billion of mineral wealth from Ukraine to pay Washington for wartime assistance, saying that the United States had not provided any specific security guarantees.
On Friday, the Ukrainian president said that the American and Ukrainian teams were working on an agreement and Trump said he expected a deal soon.
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Musk rushed to thousands of Starlink stations to Ukraine to replace Russia’s communication services after its invasion in February 2022. He praised as a hero in Ukraine, the musk later Reducing access At least once in the fall of 2022, when it became more critical to deal with Kiev with the war.
American lawmakers are divided into Trump’s efforts to find a quick end to the Ukraine war, and some have raised questions about Musk’s quick efforts to execute thousands of federal workers and close federal agencies.
Melinda Harsen, an older colleague of the Atlantic Council, said Starlink was necessary to operate Ukraine for drones, a major column of its military strategy.
“The loss of Starlink will be a changing games,” Harring said, noting that Ukraine was now 1: 1 with Russia in terms of using drones and artillery shells. Ukraine has a wide range of different drones capabilities, from marine drones and drones to unmanned air vehicles.
The Ukrainian embassy in Washington, the White House and the US Defense Department immediately did not respond to the comment.
Spacex, which works on Starlink, did not immediately respond to a comment.
Last fall, Ukraine presented the idea of opening its critical minerals to invest by the allies. This was part of the “Victory Plan” that it sought to put in the most powerful conversations and forcing Moscow on the table.
Trump adopted the idea, saying that he wants to provide Ukraine in the United States with rare land and other minerals in exchange for its financial support.
Zelenskyy rejected a detailed proposal for the United States last week that would have witnessed Washington and the United States receiving 50 % of critical minerals in Ukraine, which include graphite, uranium, cantonium and lehium, a major component of electric car batteries.
Since then, a crack has appeared between the leaders, with Trump Zelinski’s denunciation as a “dictator without elections” on Wednesday after Zelinski said Trump is besieged in the Russian discrimination bubble, a response to the American president who indicates that Ukraine began the war.
