Washington is pressuring Kyiv to grant access to its critical mineral reserves, with U.S. negotiators raising the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite internet system, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.
The issue was brought up after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected an initial proposal from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the sources said. Starlink, owned by SpaceX, provides essential communication infrastructure for Ukraine, particularly for its military operations.
The matter was raised again on Thursday during a meeting between U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg and Zelenskiy. According to one source briefed on the talks, Ukraine was warned that its access to Starlink could be shut off if a deal on critical minerals was not reached.
“Ukraine relies heavily on Starlink—it is their lifeline,” the source stated. “Losing access would be a devastating setback.”
Following the publication of these claims, Elon Musk dismissed the report as “false” and accused the news outlet of lying. However, the news agency reaffirmed its reporting.
Zelenskiy has rejected U.S. demands for $500 billion worth of Ukrainian mineral resources as repayment for wartime aid, citing the lack of clear security guarantees from Washington. Despite tensions, both sides have indicated that negotiations are ongoing, with Trump expressing optimism about reaching an agreement soon.
Initially, Musk played a crucial role in supporting Ukraine by providing thousands of Starlink terminals after Russian forces disrupted the country’s communications in 2022. However, he has since restricted access on at least one occasion, criticizing Ukraine’s handling of the war.
Poland’s deputy prime minister stated that his country has been covering Ukraine’s Starlink subscription and will continue to do so.
U.S. lawmakers remain divided over Trump’s efforts to swiftly end the conflict, with some questioning his actions, including his recent dismissal of thousands of federal employees and agency closures.
Melinda Haring, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, emphasized the significance of Starlink in Ukraine’s military strategy, particularly for drone operations. “Losing Starlink would be a major turning point,” she noted, highlighting Ukraine’s current parity with Russia in drone and artillery capabilities.
Neither the Ukrainian embassy in Washington nor U.S. government officials provided comments on the situation. SpaceX has also remained silent.
Meanwhile, Russian and U.S. negotiators have scheduled a follow-up meeting within two weeks to discuss potential conflict resolution, following an initial discussion in Riyadh.
Last year, Ukraine proposed opening its critical mineral sector to allied investments as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its position in negotiations and pressure Moscow. Trump has embraced the idea, advocating for Ukraine to supply the U.S. with rare earth elements and other minerals in exchange for continued financial support.
However, Zelenskiy recently rejected a U.S. proposal that would have granted Washington and American firms a 50% stake in Ukraine’s critical mineral resources, including graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium—key components in battery production.
The disagreement has deepened tensions between the two leaders, with Trump calling Zelenskiy “a dictator without elections” after the Ukrainian president accused him of being influenced by Russian disinformation. This came in response to Trump’s controversial claim that Ukraine instigated the war.
