Elon Musk Assures Starlink Continuity in Ukraine as EU and Eutelsat Step Up

Elon Musk has assured that Starlink, his satellite internet service, will continue to operate in Ukraine, despite recent tensions with European countries. This statement comes after Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested that Poland might seek alternative satellite internet providers if Starlink proves unreliable. Musk's comments follow a public spat where he referred to Sikorski as a 'small man' and emphasized that there is 'no substitute for Starlink.' The European Union has responded to these concerns by offering satellite assistance to Ukraine through the GovSatCom platform, indicating readiness to support Ukraine if necessary. This move is part of a broader European effort to reduce dependency on US technology, particularly in light of potential shifts in US policy under the Trump administration. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also denied any threats to cut Ukraine off from Starlink, highlighting its importance to the Ukrainian war effort. Eutelsat, a French satellite communications operator, is actively collaborating with European authorities to enhance Ukraine's satellite connectivity. The company plans to deploy approximately 40,000 terminals in Ukraine, aiming to match the number currently provided by SpaceX's Starlink, which operates with a constellation of over 7,000 satellites. Poland currently pays around 50 million dollars annually for half of Ukraine's Starlink terminals.