US uses Starlink connection card to force Ukraine to accept mineral deal?

US negotiators are now pressuring Ukraine by warning that they could cut off access to the Starlink satellite internet of the US aerospace corporation SpaceX if an agreement on important minerals is not reached.

After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected an initial proposal from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the issue of Kyiv maintaining access to Starlink satellite internet was discussed between officials of the two countries, Reuters reported on February 22, citing three informed sources. Starlink is currently an important internet connection provider for the Ukrainian people and military.

A Ukrainian soldier uses a Starlink signal receiver in the frontline area of ​​Kreminna (Ukraine).

The issue was raised again during a meeting between US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg and President Zelensky on February 20. Reuters sources said that during the meeting, Ukraine was informed that it would face the risk of having its services cut off if it did not reach an agreement on critical minerals.

“Ukraine relies on Starlink. They consider it their ‘guiding star.’ So losing Starlink would be a huge blow,” the source said.

Trump 'very disappointed' by Ukraine's rejection of mineral deal

President Zelensky on February 19 rejected the US demand for $500 billion in mineral resources from Ukraine to repay the debt for wartime aid from Washington. He stressed that the US had never provided such a large sum and the proposed deal did not provide any specific security guarantees.

However, on February 21, President Zelensky said US and Ukrainian teams were working to reach an agreement, and US leader Donald Trump said he hoped the deal would be signed soon.

The US, Ukraine and SpaceX have not commented on the new information.

Melinda Haring, a fellow at the Atlantic Council (USA), assessed that Starlink is essential for Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, an important pillar in the country's military strategy. Therefore, the loss of Starlink will be a decisive turning point in the conflict."

Previously, billionaire Elon Musk - SpaceX boss shipped thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine to replace communications services destroyed after Russia's special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Billionaire Elon had restricted access to satellite internet services at least once with Ukraine in the fall of 2022 when he criticized Kyiv's handling of the conflict.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-tung-con-bai-ket-noi-starlink-de-ep-ukraine-chap-nhan-thoa-thuan-khoang-san-185250222094832218.htm