PNN – The President of Ukraine has asked Donald Trump and US officials to mediate for broader access for Kyiv to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite communication system.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; citing The Independent, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Donald Trump and other US officials to facilitate expanded Ukrainian use of SpaceX’s satellite network and the Starlink service, enabling Ukrainian forces to more precisely guide long-range strikes against targets inside Russia.
This request comes as Kyiv seeks ways to reduce its reliance on American Patriot air defense systems—systems that have played a crucial role in countering Russian missile and drone attacks, but whose stockpiles have come under strain due to the simultaneous needs of the U.S. and its allies in other crises, including the aggressive actions taken by the U.S. and the Israeli regime against Iran.
According to reports, Zelenskyy raised this request during his recent meeting with Trump at the White House. A person familiar with the discussions stated that the Ukrainian president also broached the subject with U.S. lawmakers in Congress. Trump made no commitment to accede to the request during the meeting.
Currently, Elon Musk has authorized the use of Starlink within Ukrainian territory and in areas under Russian control; however, the system’s use for operations inside Russian territory remains restricted.
For several weeks, Zelenskyy has been attempting to persuade U.S. officials to alter this policy. He believes that broader access to Starlink could enhance the accuracy of Ukrainian missiles and drones at medium and long ranges.