If President Donald Trump really wants a cease-fire in Ukraine, he’ll pressure Elon Musk to let Kyiv use his Starlink system over Russian territory.
Under the current agreement, Ukraine can use the system — which provides indispensable internet access via satellites — only in Ukrainian territory.
Kyiv wants permission to use it at least 125 miles over the border; Musk has been hesitant, saying he doesn’t want his company responsible for helping escalate the war.
Trump should set him straight: Starlink can be the key to de-escalation.
Improved guidance over Russia for Ukrainian attack and reconnaissance drones would boost Kyiv’s ability to hit Vladimir Putin’s missile launchers and key infrastructure — and push the Russian strongman to the table faster than anything else.
Kyiv’s already had great success in striking Russia’s oil facilities; letting Putin know that it’s about to get better, curbing the petro-sales that bring him vital revenue, is just the kind of pressure that can force him to make a deal.
In UN remarks Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that Ukraine’s ultimate target is not Russian oil facilities but Putin’s ability to finance and “drag out the war”: Starlink can shorten the war.
Trump can also use his new powers under the Lindsey Graham sanctions law to slap countries that buy Russian energy or help Moscow skirt sanctions.
All this pressure can convince Putin to agree to at least an “energy cease-fire” before winter hits, avoiding suffering for both countries.
“This winter could be very hard for us, but in response we will have no choice but to make it painful for Russia, too,” if Putin “continues to target our energy system and our heating,” warned Zelensky.
We get it: With midterm elections approaching, Trump is worried about oil prices, particularly diesel, so he doesn’t want Russian oil sites targeted.
But the best way to settle the markets is tightening the screws on Putin to get him to OK a mutual halt to energy-facility strikes.
The threat of strikes (and Graham sanctions) may be sufficient; Ukraine won’t need to actually use Starlink to hit those facilities if Putin goes for an energy truce.
Even simply restricting the conflict can help pave the way to a broader cease-fire, perhaps leading, finally, to an end of the war.
As Zelensky notes, the conflict is taking a monstrous toll, particularly on Russia: In just the first eight months this year, 248,000 Russian soldiers have died, he says, to win under 400 square miles of territory — “a significant part” of which Ukraine has since retaken.
This winter, civilian casualties (on both sides) could likewise prove horrific, absent an energy cease-fire.
Yet Putin won’t budge unless he feels it best serves his interests.
Starlink and secondary sanctions can mean the difference.
The ball’s in Trump’s court.
