Trump Rejects Push to Give Ukraine Starlink for Long-Range Strikes on Russia – FT

US President Donald Trump has turned down Ukraine's plea to utilize Starlink technology for directing drone attacks on Russian military objectives inside Russia, according to the Financial Times. This request surfaced during a private White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in late July. Zelensky sought Trump's intervention to engage with Elon Musk, the mastermind behind SpaceX and Starlink.

The Ukrainian leader proposed using Starlink to enhance the precision of long-range drones targeting Russian military assets, specifically mobile ballistic missile launchers and related infrastructure situated up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Ukraine's borders. This move aimed to curb Russia's potential to launch ballistic missiles towards Kyiv and other Ukrainian urban centers, thereby alleviating strain on Ukraine's dwindling stock of Patriot air-defense systems.

However, Trump merely acknowledged the possibility but offered no assurance of support. SpaceX currently permits Ukraine to utilize Starlink within its own controlled territories, including Crimea, but prohibits its usage inside Russia. Consequently, Ukrainian long-range drones resort to alternative navigation systems, such as AI-driven technology, when operating beyond Ukraine's borders.

Zelensky argued that more accurate targeting would be crucial to neutralize Russia's mobile missile launchers before the onset of winter, when Moscow is anticipated to escalate attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Kyiv had envisioned that confining strikes to targets within a 200-kilometer radius of the Ukrainian border might persuade Musk to reconsider his stance.

Nevertheless, Musk has historically confined Starlink's use for attacks deep within Russia due to nuclear escalation concerns. Moreover, Zelensky sought a meeting with Musk during his US visit, yet the entrepreneur reportedly declined. Earlier this year, Mykhailo Fedorov, the former Ukrainian Defense Minister, reportedly struck a deal with Musk to limit Starlink access for the Russian military.

Nonetheless, attempts to secure broader access for Ukrainian strikes inside Russia have yielded no favorable outcome, as reported by The Atlantic. Musk has consistently advocated for the resolution of the conflict through a peace accord between Kyiv and Moscow, asserting that Russia is unlikely to withdraw its forces without concessions from Ukraine.