Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been at the center of a heated exchange regarding his Starlink internet service’s involvement in Ukraine’s military operations.
The debate intensified after Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski expressed concerns about Starlink’s reliability and suggested that Poland might need to explore alternative providers if Musk’s satellite service failed.
This confrontation began on social media, where Musk responded to claims that Starlink was crucial for Ukraine’s defense, saying that Ukraine’s entire front line would collapse without it. Musk emphasized his strong stance on keeping the service operational, stating that despite his personal disagreements with Ukraine’s policies, Starlink would not be turned off.
“To be extremely clear, no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals… We would never do such a thing or use it as a bargaining chip,” Musk posted.
Sikorski’s comments came in response to Musk’s declaration, reminding that Poland has been funding Starlink services in Ukraine at a cost of around $50 million per year. He warned that if SpaceX proved to be an unreliable provider, Poland would be forced to look for alternatives. Sikorski’s remarks sparked a strong response from Musk, who dismissed his concerns and called him a “small man,” accusing Poland of paying only a fraction of the service’s cost and suggesting there was no viable substitute for Starlink.
In the wake of this exchange, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, dismissing Sikorski’s claims and asserting that no one had made any threats about cutting off Ukraine’s access to Starlink. Rubio defended Musk, stating that Ukraine’s war effort would have been much more difficult without the satellite service, and urged Sikorski to express gratitude for the service’s role in Ukraine’s defense.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, while not directly addressing Musk or Sikorski, called for respect and humility in diplomatic relations, stating:
“True leadership means respect for partners and allies. Even for the smaller and weaker ones. Never arrogance.”
Starlink has played a vital role in providing high-speed internet to Ukraine, especially in remote areas, since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The service has been integral to Ukrainian military operations, with thousands of terminals being used by the armed forces. Despite tensions surrounding the service’s future, Musk’s position remains firm: Starlink will continue to provide internet to Ukraine for the foreseeable future.
With input from Al Jazeera, the Guardian, and BBC.
