A war of words erupted on X between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski over funding for Starlink in Ukraine. When Sikorski claimed Poland foots the bill for Ukraine’s access to the satellite network—shelling out $50 million annually—Musk shot back with a blunt, “Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.”
Musk insisted he never threatened to cut off Ukraine, despite opposing the war’s continuation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also waded in, accusing Sikorski of fabricating claims. “No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off,” Rubio posted, reminding him that Starlink has been crucial in keeping Ukraine’s military communications online.
Musk doubled down, stating Starlink would “never” be shut off, nor would it be used as leverage. So far, Russian forces have failed to jam the network, making it an indispensable tool for Ukraine’s defense. Despite the heated exchange, Starlink remains operational—whether Poland keeps paying or not.
