Diplomatic Tensions Rise Over Elon Musk and Starlink Usage

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced concerns over accusations from President Donald Trump, alleging deception concerning negotiations with Elon Musk about Starlink’s military use against Russian forces. This situation shines a spotlight on a new tension in diplomatic relations between Zelensky and Trump.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comments, highlighting Ukraine’s reliance on Starlink terminals for battlefield communications and drone operations. Recent months have seen Kyiv intensifying its drone strike campaign, targeting Russian assets such as oil infrastructure and the major online retailer, Wildberries, in efforts to affect Moscow directly.

Starlink Access Dispute and U.S. Communications

According to Ukrainian media, Zelensky stated that earlier this year, the Ukrainian defense ministry informed him that SpaceX had conditionally agreed to permit Starlink usage over Russian territory for operations, pending approval. He relayed this news to Trump. However, Trump later accused Zelensky of misleading him after claiming Musk refused such permissions.

“He said that I had supposedly deceived him because Musk had denied Ukraine the use of Starlink on Russian territory,” Zelensky noted in an off-the-record meeting, later publicized. He returned to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, which suggested there might have been a misunderstanding.

Political Fallout and Leadership Shakeup

The comments emerged amid tensions involving Zelensky and former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov’s departure led to protests, and he called for presidential elections, challenging Zelensky amid the ongoing conflict since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Zelensky did not explicitly accuse Fedorov of dishonesty but highlighted miscommunications with the White House as influential factors in recent decisions.

Ukraine continues to engage in talks with the U.S. regarding Starlink’s potential use over Russian areas. SpaceX was contacted by Newsweek for comments.

Technical Challenges and Frontline Dynamics

The Financial Times recently reported Ukraine sought approval to use Starlink-equipped drones against Russian missile systems up to 200 kilometers inside Russian territory. Fedorov, upon resigning, noted restricting Starlink access for Russia was a significant achievement, impacting Moscow’s drone capabilities.

While SpaceX assures that it doesn’t provide Starlink services to Russian troops, Ukrainian intelligence noted systemic adoption by Russians by early 2024. However, military bloggers in Russia have said access issues arose by early 2025.

Fedorov, whose initial appeal to Musk led to Starlink’s activation across Ukraine, is expected to visit the United States, with potential meetings with Musk, although unconfirmed, reported by Reuters.

Contact information for Newsweek editors: Daniel Orton and Anthony Murray.