The U.S. threatened to disconnect Starlink for Ukraine if it backed out of a fossil fuel deal, according to media reports.

The United States may restrict Ukraine's access to Starlink, demanding control over strategic mineral resources. Kyiv refuses to concede.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Reuters.

American negotiators are pressuring Kyiv to grant access to strategically important mineral resources. According to Reuters, during discussions with Ukrainian officials, U.S. representatives raised the possibility of disconnecting the country from Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Starlink plays a critically important role in supporting Ukraine's military and civilian infrastructure, providing internet connectivity even in areas of active combat. The issue of the system's continued operation in Ukraine was discussed after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected an initial proposal from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Buscetta.

According to sources, during a meeting with Zelensky, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, confirmed that disconnecting Starlink is possible if Kyiv does not agree to American terms regarding mineral resources. One participant in the negotiations stated that Ukraine relies on Starlink and considers it its North Star. He also noted that losing access would be a significant blow.

Mineral Resources in Exchange for Support

The President of Ukraine rejected the demands from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to transfer mineral resources worth $500 billion to the U.S. as compensation for military aid. Zelensky emphasized that Washington did not offer any specific security guarantees in response to these concessions.

However, on Friday, the Ukrainian leader stated that his team continues negotiations, and Trump expressed hope for a swift signing of an agreement. Previously, the former U.S. president supported Ukraine's initiative to allow allies access to strategic resources such as graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium—a key component in electric vehicle batteries.

Ukraine's refusal to transfer control over mineral resources has strained relations between Kyiv and Washington. Last week, Trump labeled Zelensky a dictator without elections after the Ukrainian president claimed that the American leader had fallen victim to Russian disinformation.

Starlink in Ukraine

Elon Musk played a key role in providing Ukraine with satellite internet following Russia's invasion in 2022. However, in the fall of the same year, he restricted access to the system when his stance on the conflict became more cautious.

Melinda Haring, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, stated that losing Starlink would change the game. She also noted that Ukraine is currently on par with Russia regarding the use of drones and artillery shells and possesses a wide range of various drone capabilities, from maritime and reconnaissance to long-range unmanned aerial vehicles.

It is worth noting that U.S. President Donald Trump stated he intends to revive the rare earth minerals agreement, hinting that otherwise, Volodymyr Zelensky would remain dissatisfied.

Additionally, the American leader expressed outrage over the reception of the U.S. Treasury Secretary in Ukraine.