Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has approached Donald Trump for assistance in leveraging Starlink satellite systems to conduct attacks against Russian targets, according to reports.
During his visit to Washington in July, Zelensky sought Trump’s support in discussions with Elon Musk regarding the use of Starlink for military operations on Russian soil, including targeting ballistic missile launchers, as reported by “The Atlantic”.
According to three anonymous sources cited by the publication, Zelensky and Trump met privately on July 28, but Trump did not take a clear stance on the Ukrainian request at that time.
Currently, Starlink systems are only being used by the Ukrainian military within Ukraine, and their deployment for operations inside Russia was blocked earlier this year after discussions between the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and Musk. However, the system does support military operations in Russian-occupied Crimea.
The ability to target Russian ballistic missile launchers is critical for Kyiv, especially given shortages of missiles for Patriot air defense systems. “The Atlantic” reports that a favorable decision regarding Starlink could also benefit the U.S., which is facing limited stocks of this weapon following military actions against Iran.
Zelensky reportedly also requested a personal meeting with Musk, but sources indicate that the billionaire declined the invitation. No final decision has been made regarding the Ukrainian proposal. Trump assured Zelensky that he would consider the plan, with one source noting that the former president’s decision would depend on whether expanding Starlink’s capabilities could help end the war initiated by Russia.
