US threatens to limit Starlink access in Ukraine over mineral resource dispute - Reuters

American negotiators are pressuring Kyiv to grant access to strategically important mineral resources. According to Reuters, during negotiations with Ukrainian officials, US representatives raised the possibility of disconnecting the country from the Starlink satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Starlink plays a critical role in supporting Ukraine's military and civilian infrastructure, providing internet connectivity even in active combat zones. The question of continuing the system's operation in Ukraine was discussed after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected an initial proposal from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

According to sources, at a meeting with Zelenskyy, US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg confirmed that shutting down Starlink is possible if Kyiv does not agree to American terms regarding mineral resources. One of the participants in the negotiations stated that Ukraine relies on Starlink and considers it its North Star. He also noted that losing access would be a tremendous blow.

Mineral resources in exchange for support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the demands of the Trump administration to hand over mineral resources valued at $500 billion to the US as compensation for military aid. Zelenskyy emphasized that Washington did not offer any specific security guarantees in return for these concessions.

However, on Friday, the Ukrainian leader stated that his team continues negotiations, while Trump expressed hope for a swift agreement. Previously, the former US president supported Ukraine's initiative to grant allies access to strategic resources such as graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium, a key component for electric vehicle batteries.

Ukraine's refusal to cede control over mineral resources has created tension in relations between Kyiv and Washington. Last week, Trump labeled Zelenskyy a dictator without elections after the Ukrainian president stated that the American leader had fallen victim to Russian disinformation.

Starlink in Ukraine

Elon Musk played a key role in providing Ukraine with satellite internet following Russia's invasion in 2022. However, in the autumn of that year, he restricted access to the system as his stance on the conflict became more cautious.

Melinda Haring, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, stated that the loss of Starlink would be a game changer. She also noted that Ukraine is currently at parity with Russia regarding the use of drones and artillery shells, possessing a wide range of drone capabilities, from maritime and reconnaissance to long-range UAVs.

It is worth mentioning that US President Donald Trump announced his intention to revive an agreement on rare earth minerals, hinting that otherwise, Volodymyr Zelenskyy would remain dissatisfied.

Additionally, the American leader expressed outrage over the reception of the US Secretary of the Treasury in Ukraine.