A senior Ukrainian diplomat stated on November 5 that the ‘Star Shield’ satellite network contract signed with the U.S. government will expire next year, and Kiev is eager to begin negotiations for a new contract.
Last month, commanders on the Ukrainian battlefield noticed that the Star Shield system suddenly experienced speed restrictions, which hindered its ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced some military operations to be canceled. This incident has drawn close attention to the system's critical role in the Ukrainian war.
The Acting Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Yevgeny Sheynyk, stated that Kiev has never received any explanations for the situation from Washington or SpaceX. SpaceX is a technology company operated by Elon Musk, which provides "Starlink" military services to the US government; its commercial "Starlink" services are available worldwide.
"The 'Star Shield' contract expires next year. We understand that negotiating a new contract will take time," said Nick Xie at the Washington event, adding "But now is actually an opportune moment for us to do so. We want a clear understanding: can we continue with the negotiations, and based on the terms of reference, what would be the agreement?"
Shynick did not provide the specific month when the contract would expire; he only said it would be in the middle of next year.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has stated that there was a period during which they obtained information about Russian missile attacks from the United States.
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy complained about the United States delaying crucial supplies for the 'Patriot' and 'NASAMS' missile systems. He also criticized Trump's diesel oil deal with Russia.
Trump criticized Zelenskyy for attacking Russian refinery plants, as high energy prices put pressure on Trump’s Republican colleagues before the midterms, and the Republicans lost control of the U.S. Congress in those elections.
Shenik said that Ukraine has sought answers from the United States regarding what happened with the 'Star Shield', including inquiries to the Pentagon, the White House, and SpaceX. "No one provided answers," he said.
Last month, a group of Democrats in Congress questioned Musk regarding this matter. Senior lawmakers have promised to investigate U.S. aid to Ukraine more thoroughly.
Musk stated in a post published on the X platform on October 24th that "Star Shield" is controlled by the U.S. government. Although he defended its role in helping to defend Ukraine, Musk impliedly condemned "those evil warriors who promote endless killings and do not offer real solutions, and who engage in moral charade."
On the 4th, Zelenskyy spoke in a comment for the German Public Broadcasting Company (ZDF), expressing gratitude to SpaceX and also criticizing Musk's views. Speaking of Musk, Zelenskyy said, "We are grateful to SpaceX for providing us with connectivity. This is very helpful at the beginning of a war, but we must make it clear: we do not agree with his stance in this war."
