Poland is paying for Ukraine's Starlink subscription, its deputy PM says

Reuters ^ | 2-22-25 | Marek Strzelecki in Warsaw and Olena Harmash in Kyiv; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise

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WARSAW, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Poland said on Saturday it has been paying for Ukraine's Starlink subscription and will continue to do so despite sources saying the United States could consider cutting Ukraine's access to the satellite internet system.

U.S. negotiators pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine's critical minerals have raised the possibility of cutting the country's access to Elon Musk's vital Starlink satellite internet system, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Starlink provides crucial internet connectivity to the war-torn country and its military. "We pay and will continue to pay a subscription fee for satellite internet for Ukraine," Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said in a post on Musk-owned social media platform X.

"I cannot imagine that someone could decide to terminate a business contract for a commercial service to which Poland is a party," added Gawkowski, who is also Poland's digital affairs minister.

SpaceX, which operates Starlink, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Ukrainian military officials did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Poland has delivered 20,000 Starlink units to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022, and has been funding their maintenance to support internet connectivity, according to information on the Polish presidency's website.

President Andrzej Duda will meet Donald Trump later on Saturday during a visit to the United States, amid a widening rift between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that has alarmed Kyiv's European allies.

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From the article: "U.S. negotiators pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine's critical minerals have raised the possibility of cutting the country's access to Elon Musk's vital Starlink satellite internet system, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters."

Is cutting off Ukraine from Starlink up to the US Government or up to Musk?

[mass55th]

Sounds like Poland’s taxpayers are being screwed just like we have been here for decades. What else is Poland paying for, and for what country are they paying it?

[gibsonguy]

Tusk is a leftist a-hole so I don’t know if I believe it.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Marcus trotted this out earlier today. Think "wrap-up smear," in fine Pelosi style, for the Reuters report.

Details at the earlier thread as I asked for more detail, and found interesting things.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy 'not ready' to sign mineral deal with US, trying to make changes: Report
2/22/2025, 12:20:24 PM · 39 of 52
Worldtraveler once upon a time to marcusmaximus

Comment # 39 -- Re: Gawkowski

Hotlinks for clarity.... I suspect this another "information" game in the moment, until better sources emerge.

By the way, I asked for other "original" sources such as the X link.Marcus did not further respond. Seems to be an SBU "squirrel."