U.S. threatens to cut Starlink access unless Ukraine concedes mineral rights

By bellecarter // 2025-02-24

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U.S. officials threatened Ukraine with the loss of Starlink internet access during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky unless Ukraine agrees to grant significant mineral rights to the United States.
Starlink has become essential for Ukrainian military and civilian communications, serving as a critical lifeline since Russia's invasion in February 2022, with over 40,000 terminals donated by SpaceX.
The U.S. is pushing for a deal that would grant ownership of up to 50 percent of Ukraine's mineral resources, including rare-earth minerals, graphite, uranium, titanium and lithium, in exchange for continued aid.
Zelensky has refused to sign the mineral deal, emphasizing that he cannot compromise Ukraine's sovereignty and noting that half of the nation's rare-earth deposits are already under Russian control.
Poland has stepped in to support Ukraine by paying for its Starlink subscription and the diplomatic rift between the U.S. and Ukraine has broader implications for international cooperation and the conflict's resolution.

U.S. officials have warned Ukraine that it could lose access to Elon Musk's critical Starlink internet terminals if it does not agree to grant significant mineral rights to the United States, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The threat, made during a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv on Feb. 20, underscores the growing tension between the two allies and the strategic importance of Ukraine's mineral resources in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Starlink has provided essential internet connectivity to Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure, often serving as the only reliable communication link in war-torn regions. Musk's SpaceX has donated more than 40,000 Starlink terminals, which have become indispensable for Ukrainian troops on the battlefield. "Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star," one source told Reuters. "Losing Starlink ... would be a massive blow." The indispensability of Starlink was highlighted by Melinda Haring, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, who noted that the service is crucial for Ukraine's drone operations, a key pillar of its military strategy. "Losing Starlink would be a game changer," Haring said, emphasizing that Ukraine has achieved parity with Russia in terms of drone usage and artillery shells.

Diplomatic rift and mineral concessions

The threat to cut off Starlink access comes as part of a broader push by President Donald Trump's administration to secure Ukraine's mineral wealth in exchange for continued military and financial aid. Trump and his advisers have pressed Zelensky to sign a deal that would grant the U.S. ownership of up to 50 percent of Ukraine’s mineral resources, including rare-earth minerals, graphite, uranium, titanium and lithium. However, Zelensky has balked at the proposal, arguing that he cannot sell his country's sovereignty. During the meeting with Kellogg, Ukraine was told it faces an "imminent shutoff" of Starlink if it does not sign the minerals deal. The Ukrainian leader, who has already acknowledged that around half of his nation's rare-earth deposits are under Russian occupation, refused to sign the agreement. (Relate: Musk, Trump criticize Zelensky over leadership and war spending as U.S. aid debate heats up.) The potential loss of Starlink has sparked concern among Ukraine's allies. Poland's deputy prime minister, Jarosław Kaczynski, announced on Saturday that his country has been paying for Ukraine's Starlink subscription and will continue to do so, potentially mitigating the immediate impact of any U.S. action. However, the diplomatic rift between the U.S. and Ukraine has broader implications for the international response to the conflict. U.S. lawmakers are divided over Trump's efforts to find a quick end to the war, with some questioning Musk's rapid changes in support for Ukraine. The threat to cut off Starlink access is a significant escalation in the diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and Ukraine, highlighting the complex interplay of strategic interests, resource control and military aid in the ongoing conflict. As Ukraine and the U.S. continue to negotiate, the fate of Starlink and the broader alliance between the two nations hangs in the balance. The outcome of these negotiations could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the war effort but also for the global supply of critical minerals. WWIII.news has more related stories. Watch the video below that talks about Zelensky planning on "DIY NATO" as West shuts the possibility of Ukraine's membership in the alliance. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

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Diplomatic rift and mineral concessions

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