SpaceX founder Elon Musk said on Monday afternoon that the company withdrew a funding request from the Pentagon to begin billing for satellite Internet services to Ukraine. Musk’s announcement on Twitter followed a special CNN report that SpaceX had requested the Pentagon in September saying they were no longer able to donate the critical Starlink terminals or use the surprisingly expensive service.
SpaceX mentioned that the Pentagon begin paying for organization for existing terminals worked by the Ukrainian government, as well as to fund around 8,000 new terminals and organizations for Ukraine’s military and intelligence services, after a CNN report disclosed the request. did show in more detail that SpaceX is not solely responsible for Starlink access in Ukraine in fact the many international efforts it has heavily funded, Musk tweeted on Saturday.
Starlink is at this point losing cash and various associations are getting residents’ billions of dollars. We will continue funding the Ukrainian government for free. Musk said in a tweet on Monday that it took the move to deny the Defense Department’s request. CNN has asked the Pentagon if SpaceX withdrew its request for funding The government of Ukraine and the command of Ukraine is asking for a new request for ongoing service.
The general funding request agreed upon was for the remainder of 2022 for $124 million. It’s muddled what the last sum or terms were settled upon. To be precise, 25,300 terminals were sent to Ukraine, but only 10,630 are currently paying for the service, Musk said on Monday. SpaceX’s letter said the company paid for about 70% of Ukraine’s terminals’ Internet service, which costs $4,500 a month, but only 15% of 20,000 terminals.
The rest was paid for by governments such as the US, UK and Poland, as well as private initiatives had not paid. This is something we are discussing with SpaceX to see if possible support can be provided, but at this point, DoD has not paid for SpaceX services as it pertains to Starlink in Ukraine, the official said.
A European official told CNN that some European countries have extended support for SpaceX’s Starlink funding in Ukraine. The authority said the matter was examined casually at the EU’s International concerns Board on Monday. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Saturday that it is too important to leave Ukraine’s internet connectivity in the hands of a private person.
Let’s find a way to pay for Starlink or form an alliance of partners from Ukraine to find an alternative supplier. Lithuania is prepared to contribute, he said in a tweet. Musk has been intensely censured for seeking after a harmony plan that many accept to be favorable to Russian, which would incorporate authoritatively giving Crimea to Russia.
On Monday he continued to push his proposal, saying that if Russia were faced with the choice of losing Crimea or using nuclear weapons on the battlefield, they would choose the latter.