Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials to help Ukraine win permission from Elon Musk to use Starlink in support of strikes inside Russia. The request puts a commercial satellite network at the center of a sensitive military and diplomatic issue.
According to the report, Zelenskyy raised the matter directly with Trump while in Washington. The goal is to gain approval to use Starlink for guiding strikes, a step that would expand how Ukraine wants to use the satellite internet system in the war.
Starlink, operated by Musk’s company, has been an important communications tool for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion. But using the network in connection with attacks inside Russian territory carries added political and strategic implications, making any decision far more contentious than basic battlefield connectivity.
The appeal also highlights how private technology companies and their leaders can influence wartime capabilities. By turning to Trump and other American officials, Zelenskyy appears to be seeking political backing that could help unlock Musk’s approval for a broader military use of Starlink.
