Zelensky Asks Trump to Help Secure Musk's Starlink Approval

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged US President Donald Trump and senior American officials to help secure permission from Elon Musk for Ukraine to expand the use of the Starlink satellite communication network to support operations inside Russian territory. According to an Associated Press report, Zelensky made the request during meetings in Washington this week as Ukraine continues seeking ways to strengthen its military capabilities amid persistent Russian missile and drone attacks. Trump reportedly did not commit to the proposal during their discussions.

The request centres on expanding Starlink's operational use beyond Ukrainian territory. While Musk has permitted Ukraine to use the satellite internet system throughout its own territory, including Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, access for operations inside Russia remains restricted. Zelensky is said to have raised the issue directly with Trump during an Oval Office meeting and later discussed it with US lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Officials familiar with the private conversations said Ukraine believes broader Starlink access would improve the precision of long-range military operations.

Ukraine's renewed push comes as it faces increasing pressure from continued Russian aerial attacks and uncertainty over future supplies of US-made Patriot air defence systems. Zelensky has also been lobbying Washington to approve a licensing agreement that would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems domestically. Although Trump had earlier indicated support for such an arrangement during the NATO summit in Turkey, he later stated that discussions were still ongoing and that no final decision had been made, citing the sensitivity of transferring advanced defence technology.

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US lawmakers who met Zelensky said the Ukrainian president stressed that long-term access to Starlink would improve the accuracy of Ukraine's long-range and intermediate-range systems. Senator Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Zelensky emphasised the importance of striking precise targets rather than operating with limited accuracy. Zelensky also reiterated his country's need for additional Patriot systems and enhanced defence cooperation during meetings with members of Congress ahead of a Senate vote on a proposed package of additional sanctions against Russia.

Expanding Starlink's role could also present new risks for SpaceX, the company that owns the satellite network. Previous intelligence assessments reviewed by the Associated Press suggested that Russia may be developing anti-satellite capabilities aimed at disrupting or damaging the Starlink constellation. Although those findings could not be independently verified, officials believe Russia considers the network a significant military advantage for Ukraine because it has played a critical role in maintaining battlefield communications since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

During his visit to Washington, Zelensky also sought to strengthen broader security cooperation with the United States by highlighting Ukraine's experience in countering Iranian-made drones used by Russia. He argued that Ukrainian expertise in unmanned warfare could assist the US and its allies in addressing similar threats in the Middle East. According to lawmakers, Zelensky also planned to share intelligence indicating that Russia has been assisting Iran with satellite surveillance capabilities, underscoring his government's efforts to deepen strategic cooperation with Washington while seeking additional military support.

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