During a meeting at the White House on July 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a critically important request to Donald Trump that had previously remained in the shadows. The request concerned obtaining permission for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to use the Starlink satellite communication system within the territory of Russia.
Objective of the request: destruction of launchers
The Ukrainian leader explained to the former US President that expanding the satellite coverage area is necessary to accomplish specific military tasks. The primary goal is the destruction of the enemy's ballistic missile launchers. Zelensky emphasized that the Russian army regularly uses these mobile targets to shell and terrorize the civilian population of Ukraine.
Currently, the use of Starlink terminals by Ukrainian troops is limited to the territory of Ukraine itself, including Crimea and other occupied regions. Billionaire Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, previously established a restriction prohibiting the operation of satellites over the territory of the aggressor state.
Trump's role in negotiations with Musk
In Volodymyr Zelensky's opinion, Donald Trump possesses sufficient influence to quickly resolve this issue with Elon Musk. During the conversation, the Ukrainian President also initiated a personal meeting with the billionaire, however, Musk declined the invitation.
Trump did not reject Zelensky's request and promised to consider the possibility of intervention. This opens up the possibility that the head of the White House will indeed attempt to negotiate with the owner of SpaceX to lift restrictions for Ukraine, which would become a significant factor in the current conflict.
