Zelensky Says Trump Accused Him of Misleading Him Over Musk, Starlink Plan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky detailed a recent diplomatic clash with former President Donald Trump, alleging the former misled him about negotiations with Elon Musk regarding the military use of Starlink terminals. Zelensky explained that Trump accused him of deception over the Starlink discussions, despite Ukrainian forces' heavy reliance on Starlink for battlefield internet communications and drone operations.

Ukrainian media reported that Zelensky was initially informed by the defense ministry that Musk's SpaceX had provisionally agreed to allow Starlink usage over Russian territory, pending approval. Zelensky claimed he relayed this information to Trump during a meeting, who then falsely claimed Musk had refused permission, leading to the accusation that Zelensky had misled him.

Zelensky noted that when he returned to the Ministry of Defense, they confirmed this might be the case. The president made these remarks during an unrecorded session with reporters, commenting on the ongoing tensions between him and former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose resignation led to nationwide protests. The dispute over Starlink access remains a point of contention, with Zelensky stating that Ukraine is still negotiating with the U.S. on the potential use of Starlink over Russia.