American negotiators, who suppressed Kiev for access to Ukraine’s important minerals, have increased the possibility of cutting the country’s access to Alone Musk’s important starlink satellite internet system, with three sources familiar with the matter told the Reuters.
Sources said Ukraine’s continuous access to Ukraine -owned Starlinks was brought into discussion between the US and Ukrainian officials, as Ukrainian President Volodimier Zelanski rejected an initial proposal from American Treasury Secretary Scott Bassant.
The Starlinks provide important internet connectivity to the war -torn Ukraine and its army.
The issue was re -raised on Thursday, during the meetings between Keith Kelog, US Special Ukraine messenger and Zelanski, said that a source, who was informed on the talks.
During the meeting, Ukraine was told that if it does not reach a deal on important minerals, the session of the service was faced, the source said, who requested the oblivion to discuss the closed talks.
“Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their northern star,” the source said. “Losing Starlink … will be a massive blow.”
Zelansky rejected the demands of $ 500 billion in mineral funds from Ukraine from the administration of President Donald Trump, so that Washington could be repaid to assist Washington, saying that the US has not given any specific security guarantee.
On Friday, the Ukrainian President said that the US and Ukrainian teams were working on an agreement and Trump said that he hoped that a deal would be signed soon.
Musk brought thousands of Starlink Terminals to Ukraine to change the communication services destroyed by Russia after its February 2022 invasion. Distinguished as a hero in Ukraine, Musk later curbed access to at least once in the fall of 2022 as he became more critical to deal with Kiev’s war.
American MPs have been divided over Trump’s efforts to find a quick end for Ukraine War and some raised questions about Musk’s rapid fire attempts to close thousands of federal workers and close federal agencies. Are.
Melinda Hring, a senior partner of the Atlantic Council, stated that Starlink was required to operate Ukraine’s drone, a major pillar of its military strategy.
“Losing Starlink would be a game changer,” said Hall said that Ukraine was now in 1: 1 equity with Russia in terms of drone use and artillery shells. Ukraine has a wide range of various drone capabilities, including marine drones and monitoring drones to long distance unmanned air vehicles.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, the White House and the US Department of Defense did not respond to the immediate remarks.
Spacex, which operates Starlink, also did not immediately respond to the request for comment.
Final decline, Ukraine floated the idea of ​​opening their important minerals for investment by colleagues. It was part of a “Vijay Yojana”, which demanded it to keep it in the strongest position for talks and force Moscow to the table.
Trump has adopted the idea, saying that he wants Ukraine to supply America with rare earth and other minerals in exchange for financially supporting his war efforts.
Zelanski rejected a detailed American proposal last week, with Washington and American firms received 50% significant minerals of Ukraine, including graphite, uranium, titanium and lithium, which is a major component in the electric car battery, which is a major component in the electric car battery. .
Since then a rift has come to light among the leaders, Trump has condemned Zelanski as “a dictator without elections” on Wednesday, when Zelansky said that Trump was trapped in a Russian dissolution bubble, the US President has Ukraine. Suggesting that the war started.
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