The announcement comes after tensions escalated between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and U.S. president Donald Trump, casting uncertainty over the future of Starlink’s role in the country.
According to sources, discussions with the European Union are underway, with the aim of deploying OneWeb satellites to replace SpaceX’s Starlink service.
Eutelsat, a major European satellite operator, confirmed its involvement. A representative told Reuters, “We are exchanging with the EU as to how we can contribute to enhancing Ukraine’s efforts.”
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The source commented further that Eutelsat is “actively collaborating with European institutions and business partners to enable the swift deployment of additional user terminals for critical missions and infrastructure.”
The decision comes in the wake of a dramatic political showdown between Zelenskyy and Trump, which led to questions regarding the continued operation of Starlink in Ukraine.
The United States recently announced it would halt all aid to Ukraine unless President Zelenskyy demonstrates a willingness to engage in peace negotiations.
At the beginning of 2022 Starlink was utilised in the Battle of Kyiv and was used to carry out military operations.
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