Elon Musk Assures Continued Starlink Service in Ukraine as EU Explores Eutelsat Amid Diplomatic Tensions with Poland

Elon Musk has assured that Starlink will continue to operate in Ukraine, despite earlier suggestions that he might shut down the service, which he claimed is crucial for the Ukrainian military. Musk's comments had sparked a diplomatic row between the United States and Poland, with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warning that Poland would seek alternative satellite internet providers if SpaceX proved unreliable. The dispute escalated when Musk responded to Sikorski's comments, calling him a 'small man' and asserting that there is no substitute for Starlink. The European Union has responded to the tensions by exploring alternatives to Starlink, with French satellite operator Eutelsat emerging as a potential replacement. Eutelsat, which has already deployed around 2,000 terminals in Ukraine, is in discussions with the EU to expand its service there. The company's shares have surged over 500% in the past week amid these developments. The EU is also working on its own satellite constellation, IRIS², expected to be operational by 2030, as part of efforts to reduce dependence on Starlink. Additionally, the EU can provide satellite support through GovSatCom until IRIS² is fully operational. The backdrop to this situation includes strained relations between the U.S. and Ukraine since Donald Trump's return to the White House, with tensions reaching a peak after a contentious meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Amid these geopolitical shifts, the EU held a special summit to address the war in Ukraine and reaffirm its support for the country. Starlink's network in Ukraine, supported by 7,000 satellites and 40,000 terminals, is funded by Poland at a cost of $50 million per year.