The Atlantic reveals why Elon Musk is refusing to let Ukraine use Starlink for strikes on Russian territory

American billionaire and SpaceX owner Elon Musk is currently refusing to allow Ukraine to use Starlink satellite internet for strikes on Russian territory because he believes it is time Ukraine concluded a peace deal with Russia.

Source: The Atlantic, citing associates of former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, as reported by European Pravda

Details: As The Atlantic has previously reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked his American counterpart Donald Trump during a meeting to ask Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX operates the Starlink satellite system, for permission to use it to guide strikes against the missile batteries that Russia uses to attack Kyiv and other cities. Trump did not give a clear answer regarding the proposal.

Since his dismissal as defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov has been attempting to reach Musk through back channels. Musk has so far refused to yield, according to two close associates of Fedorov in Kyiv.

"As of this moment, there is no positive decision," one of the associates said.

Musk continues to argue with Fedorov over the risk of further escalation of the war by Russia.

"Elon keeps saying it's time to make a deal," the Fedorov associate said.

Background:

• Fedorov stated on 6 August that he is still in talks with Elon Musk on the possibility of using Starlink internet to strike targets on Russian territory, including ballistic missile launchers.
• It was reported that Trump turned down Zelenskyy's request for hundreds of additional Patriot interceptor missiles ahead of the winter at their meeting in the Oval Office last week.
• During the public part of a meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit on 8 July, the US president said the United States would grant Ukraine the right to manufacture Patriot systems.
• Trump subsequently stated that he had not yet decided whether to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, saying the US had to be "a little bit careful" about it.

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