US Congress Delegation Backs Expanded Starlink Access for Ukraine

A delegation of US lawmakers has backed expanding Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network and urged an effort to win over the company’s owner, Elon Musk, who has repeatedly refused to allow its use inside Russia over fears of nuclear escalation. US Representative Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican, made the remarks during the delegation’s visit to Kyiv on Friday, Oct. 9, according to Ukrinform.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The delegation also included Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sens. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement issued later on Friday. “I will say in my own name, but I think the others present will agree with me: I fully support the idea of trying to convince Elon Musk to activate Starlink,” Crenshaw said. Three other members of the delegation also voiced their agreement, Ukrinform reported. ‘Leverage’ over Moscow Crenshaw reportedly argued that wider Starlink use, along with the sweeping sanctions championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, would give Washington more leverage over Russia. Addressing Musk directly, Crenshaw acknowledged the billionaire’s fear of escalation, while adding that sometimes the escalation is unavoidable and, at times, even necessary to reduce further tensions. Senator Roger Wicker, the Mississippi Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he hoped an agreement could be reached with Musk, according to Ukrinform. Other Topics of Interest Witkoff, Kushner Pitch ‘New Ideas’ to Ukraine in Miami The Miami talks will cover a possible energy ceasefire, security guarantees and a post-war recovery plan. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran was signed into law on Sept. 18 by US President Donald Trump. The law essentially gave the White House authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the buyers of Russian oil and gas. Altogether, the bill is aimed at cutting Russia’s war revenues; it targets Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior diplomats closely connected to the Kremlin, Moscow’s defense sectors and financial institutions. Other networks helping Moscow evade existing sanctions and conduct the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children can also be sanctioned. However, the authority to impose sanctions on Russia does not automatically mean that the president will use it. Zelensky presses for sanctions, Patriot production During the entire duration of their meeting, an air-raid alert over the threat of jet-powered Shahed drones stayed in effect, Zelensky said, thanking the US lawmakers for standing with Ukrainians amid near-constant Russian attacks. The President briefed the delegation on Russian drone attacks which damaged two schools in Kyiv alone since the start of October. Bridges, energy facilities and other critical infrastructure sustained damage as well, he said, arguing that Russia is escalating its attacks to make up for failing to achieve its goals on the battlefield. “This terror can be countered only together, and we discussed how the United States can help save lives,” Zelensky said, adding that Kyiv expects the US to implement the Graham sanctions law. “This is a matter of political will, and it is now important to demonstrate leadership and fully restrict financial flows to Russia’s war machine,” he continued. Speeding up licensing for Patriot missile production in Ukraine was also on the agenda. Trump had agreed to grant Kyiv the license to produce its own interceptors domestically during his meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, late September. The US president initially announced the license transfer in July but later backtracked on the commitment, saying Washington must exercise caution when sharing sensitive military technology. “Ukraine is ready not only to produce ballistic-missile interceptors for itself, but also to strengthen the United States and its allies through joint production,” Zelensky said. Kyiv’s consistent push to use Starlink inside Russia Currently, SpaceX allows Ukraine to use Starlink on Ukrainian-controlled territory, including Russian-occupied areas such as Crimea. However, the service inside Russia is completely blocked. Because of this, Ukraine’s long-range drones rely on alternative navigation systems, including AI-based technology, when conducting strikes across its border. Kyiv had asked Washington to help secure permission to use Starlink on drones targeting Russian ballistic missile launchers up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) inside Russia, according to Financial Times on Aug. 21. Zelensky reportedly raised the issue with Trump during a late-July meeting at the White House. Although Trump said he would consider the request, he made no tangible commitment to support it. Allowing Ukraine to use Starlink could ease pressure on the country’s already critically limited stock of Patriot missile interceptors. According to FT, Zelensky argued that it could also improve targeting that is needed to down Russia’s ballistic missile launchers ahead of winter, when Moscow is expected to intensify its campaign against critical Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukraine was still negotiating with the US over using Starlink on Russian territory for defense purposes in late August, Ukrinform reported citing Zelensky. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.