Polish Deputy Prime Minister Warns of International Crisis If Ukraine's Starlink Is Cut Off

The Kyiv Independent newspaper of Ukraine reported on March 6 that since the Russian Federation launched a special military operation in Ukraine, Poland has not only helped Ukraine maintain access to the Starlink satellite Internet network, but also provided half of the total number of terminals, up to more than 20,000 devices.

In fact, during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Starlink satellite internet - owned by SpaceX - the company of billionaire Elon Musk - plays an important role in Ukraine's civil and military communications infrastructure.

Cancelling Poland's Starlink contracts, which provide internet access to Ukraine, would be “a major crisis in international relations,” Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski warned.

“I cannot imagine a situation where a business relationship between Poland and an American company would suddenly be interrupted,” said Mr. Gawkowski.

Gawkowski's comments came on March 5, following media reports that the US had threatened to cut off Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite internet network unless Kiev agreed to a critical minerals deal with Washington.

If billionaire Musk really cuts off Ukraine's access to Starlink, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister said that would mean unilaterally terminating a contract with a country in the European Union (EU).

Poland and the EU are now looking to diversify the supply of satellite internet to Ukraine. Mr Gawkowski said the EU was considering using the Paris-based satellite telecommunications company Eutelsat to provide internet service to the Ukrainian military.

“Poland is maintaining this service, Poland bought Starlink and transferred it to Ukraine. Poland guarantees security by paying the subscription fee. I cannot imagine any American corporation violating such agreements,” Gawkowski said in a statement on February 25.

Earlier on February 21, the British news agency Reuters cited three sources familiar with the negotiations as saying that the US had threatened to cut off Ukraine's access to Starlink satellite internet stations if Kiev did not reach an agreement with the US on important mineral resources.

The deal is said to be aimed at gaining 50% control over Ukraine's natural resources, including vital minerals, oil and gas, without offering any specific security guarantees to Ukraine.

US negotiators have warned that Ukraine will lose access to Starlink stations if Kiev does not sign the deal, Reuters reported.

Starlink internet stations have played a key role in ensuring communications during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Last year, Ukraine said it had about 42,000 stations operating across military units, hospitals, businesses and aid organizations.

According to sources, Washington first raised the possibility of stopping the supply of Starlink after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the deal presented by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on February 12.

The Starlink threat was raised again in talks with US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, who arrived in Kiev on February 19 and met with Mr Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials in Kiev on February 20.

Losing access to Starlink would be catastrophic for Ukraine, a source told Reuters.

“Ukraine relies on Starlink. They see it as their North Star,” the source said, stressing that “Losing Starlink… would be a huge blow [to Ukrainian forces].”