According to an anonymous Ukrainian official who attended the bilateral meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly, Kyiv raised the question of whether Starlink terminals could be used to strike targets on Russian territory. In response, the source relayed, Trump reportedly limited himself to the phrase "You need to talk to Elon about that," thereby redirecting the Ukrainian side to the founder and head of Starlink, Elon Musk. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a post by NEWSMAX journalist Nana Sadjadpour on the social network X.
Context of the Zelenskyy–Trump Meeting
The same source emphasized that the bilateral meeting between the Ukrainian president and the American leader went "very well" and "was very positive." The Ukrainian side, he said, confirmed its readiness for an energy ceasefire with Russia. This statement is important for understanding the overall tone of the negotiations: against the backdrop of discussing de-escalation steps, Kyiv simultaneously raised the topic of expanding the possibilities for striking Russian targets using Starlink's satellite infrastructure.
Who Is Addressing Whom: The Version About a Request to Musk
Meanwhile, a number of outlets, citing the Financial Times, report that it is Ukraine that is appealing to Musk with a request to allow the use of Starlink for strikes on Russian missile systems. Thus, two close but not identical formulations are circulating in the public domain at the same time: in one, the emphasis is on Trump having "directed" Kyiv to Musk during the meeting, while in the other, Kyiv is already in direct dialogue with the billionaire and, according to ITC, he is reportedly ready to grant permission, with a certain caveat. Both versions converge on one point: the key decision on allowing satellite terminals for combat use rests with Musk, not with Washington or Kyiv.
Contradictory Data
Differences in how the facts are presented across sources deserve separate attention. RBC-Ukraine and the NEWSMAX post describe the situation as Trump's reaction to Ukraine's request during the meeting with Zelenskyy: under this version, the US president merely indicated with whom the negotiations should be conducted. At the same time, UNIAN and gazeta.ua, relying on the FT, paint a picture in which Ukraine is already directly asking Musk to allow strikes on Russian missile systems, while ITC.ua adds that Musk is "ready to grant permission, but there is a nuance." Thus, the inconsistency lies in what exact stage the process is at — whether it is the stage of Trump's redirection or the stage of ongoing direct negotiations with Musk — as well as in how far the billionaire's consent has gone. Neither version refutes the other, but neither is confirmed by a primary statement from Musk himself or an official White House representative.
Negotiations with the E3 and Further Dynamics
NEWSMAX also confirms that on the night of September 23, Kyiv time, Ukrainian negotiators will meet with representatives of the E3 "troika" — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — to discuss de-escalation measures and prepare proposals for Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. According to the source, after this the Ukrainian side intends to "talk with the Russian side." This indicates that the Starlink issue fits into a broader diplomatic cycle linking Kyiv, Washington, the European "troika," and Moscow.
Verification Limitations
It is important to note that the central claim about Trump's reaction relies on an anonymous source and a retelling of a journalist's social media post, rather than on a direct public statement by the US president or an official White House announcement. Similarly, information about Musk's readiness to grant permission is not supported by his own statement. Therefore, the account below reflects the aggregate of media reports with caveats regarding the degree of their verification.
