Pentagon considering financing Starlink’s internet in Ukraine

The Pentagon is considering a way to pay SpaceX for providing Starlink’s satellite internet to the Ukrainian people. A resource that has proven vital to maintaining internal communications in the country attacked by Russia, can be financed with federally approved sources to provide weapons and equipment in the long run.

(17) Information disclosed to the newspaper on Monday political By two American officials involved in the negotiations, the so-called Ukraine’s Security Assistance Initiative may be the source of these resources. “The way things are going, this could definitely be an option,” a third presenter reported.

Discussion of the topic was provoked by a report. CNN He issued a warning from SpaceX about the impossibility of continuing to finance the high costs of maintaining its terminals and communication services in Ukraine. Correspondence sent to the Pentagon reported cost over US$80 million this year alone.

understand the case

Even though Starlink is still losing money and other companies are taking billions of dollars from taxpayers, we will continue to fund the Ukrainian government for free.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 15 October 2022

The use of terminals in the Starlink constellation for internet use was donated to the people of Ukraine by SpaceX shortly after Russia invaded its territory to prevent the country from being isolated from the rest of the world. However, Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, has always proposed an unpredictable, disastrous “peace deal” for the conflict, saying it could disrupt lines of communication with Ukraine.

Given the negative repercussions of his comments on Twitter, the businessman appears to have regretted his remarks and assured the continuation of the services. “Although Starlink is still losing money and other companies are getting billions of taxpayer dollars,” he tweeted.

However, one of Politico’s informants said: Without being sure that Musk can be trusted, The US Department of Defense (DoD) is considering ways to get Starlink to stay in Ukraine or adopt a plan B if appropriate.