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Elon Musk: ‘If I turn off Starlink, Ukraine collapses’. The tycoon calls for an immediate end to the war

Musk, aligned with Trump, reiterates his support for a rapid cessation of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, questioning the US commitment to Nato

‘If I turn off Starlink, Ukraine collapses’. These words of Elon Musk, uttered on X, come as a rallying cry for the Ukrainian forces, which rely heavily on the satellite system for battlefield communications. The billionaire, who has offered this crucial service to Kiev since the beginning of the conflict, has become one of the most controversial allies in the war between Ukraine and Russia. His statement comes after the US, under the leadership of Donald Trump’s administration, suspended sending military aid and stopped sharing intelligence information with Ukraine. If Musk decides to disable Starlink, Ukrainian forces could be in serious trouble.

In his tweet, Musk says he is willing to challenge Vladimir Putin to a one-on-one fight over Ukraine, pointing out that the Starlink system has become the ‘backbone’ of the Ukrainian military. According to Musk, if it were switched off, ‘the entire front line would collapse’.

His words come at a decisive moment in the conflict, with Russian forces recapturing territory in the Kursk region, occupied by Ukraine since 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be intent on making a final push in the conflict, aiming to come to an eventual negotiating table with a decidedly favourable position. ‘We will make no concessions,’ Putin said, stressing that any territory conquered will not be returned to Ukraine.

Musk, like Trump, openly advocates stopping the war immediately, expressing his disgust at what he calls a ‘massacre’ that will inevitably lead to Ukraine’s defeat. ‘Anyone who really cares about the situation and understands what is going on,’ he wrote, ’wants the meat grinder to stop. Peace now.’

In another of his posts, Musk expressed his opinion on the US-NATO alliance, suggesting that the US should consider exiting the alliance. ‘It makes no sense for America to pay for Europe’s defence,’ he tweeted, a position that perfectly mirrors that of Trump, who has repeatedly stated that the US should not protect countries that do not adequately contribute to its defence.

These statements come just as news is leaking out about a plan for a gradual US disengagement from Europe, with an end to participation in military manoeuvres on the Old Continent from 2025.ù

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