Key Points:

• Elon Musk affirms Starlink will not be turned off for Ukraine despite recent claims from Polish officials.
• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defends Musk, dismissing Polish Foreign Minister's remarks as “making things up.”
• Poland funds Ukraine's Starlink service at a cost of around $50 million annually, raising questions about reliability.

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has firmly stated that Starlink will never cease operations in Ukraine, amidst a turbulent online exchange with Polish officials. Musk's commitment follows comments made by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who suggested Poland may need to look for alternative internet suppliers should Musk’s satellite service prove unreliable, a remark he made while underscoring that Poland covers approximately $50 million a year for Ukraine’s Starlink access. “The ethics of threatening the victim of aggression aside, if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider we will be forced to look for other suppliers,” said Sikorski in a post on his X account.

The exchange intensified when Musk, responding to Sikorski, asserted, “Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.” Musk had shared on X that Starlink is the backbone of the Ukrainian army, claiming, “Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off,” indicating the critical role the service plays in military operations since the Russian invasion commenced in February 2022.

In defense of Musk, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized, “No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink. And say thank you because without Starlink Ukraine would have lost this war long ago and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now.” This sentiment of gratitude towards Musk for supporting Ukraine’s communication needs was echoed by Sikorski, who remarked, “Thank you, Marco, for confirming that the brave soldiers of Ukraine can count on the vital internet service provided jointly by the U.S. and Poland.”

The backdrop of this fierce discussion is a shifting U.S. policy towards Ukraine under President Trump, who has recently suspended military aid and restricted intelligence sharing. Officials across Europe, including the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, stress the importance of respect and collaboration among allies, highlighting that “true leadership means respect for partners and allies, including the smaller and weaker ones.” The Prime Minister's remarks reflect concerns about the changing dynamics of U.S.-European relations amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Despite the ongoing tensions, Musk reiterated his position saying, “To be extremely clear, no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals. We would never do such a thing or use it as a bargaining chip,” dispelling any notions that access could be limited.

For further details on this unfolding story, visit BBC, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.