Zelensky Asks Trump to Get Musk’s OK for Starlink-Guided Strikes Inside Russia

Ukraine has asked US President Donald Trump to persuade Elon Musk to allow Starlink to be used for Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russia. During closed-door talks at the White House on Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky argued that expanded access to the satellite network would enable Ukraine to target Russian ballistic missile launchers while reducing its reliance on increasingly scarce Patriot air defense interceptors, The Atlantic reported, citing US and Ukrainian officials.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Trump reportedly said he would consider the request but stopped short of making any commitment. SpaceX currently permits Ukraine to use Starlink only on Ukrainian territory, including Russian-occupied areas such as Crimea, while blocking its use inside Russia. As a result, Ukraine’s long-range drones rely on less precise AI-based navigation systems when striking targets across the border. Zelensky reportedly told Trump that Ukraine needs more accurate targeting to destroy Russia’s mobile ballistic missile launchers before winter, when Moscow is expected to intensify attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He also sought a meeting with Musk during his US visit, but the billionaire reportedly declined. The report says Kyiv has requested 300 Patriot interceptors from Washington, but Trump has instead offered Ukraine a license to manufacture the missiles domestically – a process expected to take years before reaching meaningful production. Other Topics of Interest Oleksiy Sobolev Appointed as Deputy Head of Presidential Office by Zelensky Sobolev returns to a top government role just two weeks after the latest government reshuffle that saw the ouster of former PM Yulia Svyrydenko. Ukrainian officials argued that expanding Starlink access would provide a faster and cheaper solution. The Atlantic cited Denys Shtilerman, co-founder of Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, as saying that Starlink-guided drones could neutralize Russia’s missile threat more effectively than interceptors. “Instead of shooting down the arrows, we would strike the archers,” Shtilerman said. According to the report, Ukraine also suggested using SpaceX’s military-grade Starshield network if Musk refuses to authorize Starlink, although Ukrainian officials said Starshield would be more expensive and harder to integrate into existing drone systems. While Kyiv is seeking expanded access to Starlink for the current war effort, it is also pursuing long-term independence. Ukrainian company Stetman plans to begin deploying a national satellite constellation in 2027, aiming to eventually replace reliance on foreign-operated systems such as Starlink for government and military communications. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.