Russian military expert and air defense historian Yuri Knutov believes Elon Musk’s position on Ukraine is closely aligned with the policies of U. S. President Donald Trump. According to Knutov, the billionaire is unwilling to challenge the White House and therefore continues to restrict the Ukrainian military’s use of Starlink.

Knutov linked Musk’s stance to Washington’s recent decision not to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot interceptor missiles. In his view, Trump’s refusal was driven not by a desire to end the conflict but by the United States' own need to retain the missiles for deployments in the Middle East.

The expert argued that Musk’s actions are largely pragmatic. At the same time, he believes the restrictions serve as a reminder to Kyiv of its dependence on U.S. support and its limited ability to ignore Washington’s recommendations.

According to Knutov, Musk opposes further escalation of the conflict and favors negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. However, he believes there is no unified position within the U.S. administration on this issue.

Knutov also suggested that while Trump personally wants the conflict to end, several influential members of his administration support continuing military operations. He specifically mentioned Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Against this backdrop, Knutov views Musk’s refusal to lift Starlink restrictions for guiding Ukrainian drones as consistent with Washington’s broader policy following the decision on Patriot missile supplies.

Earlier, The Atlantic, citing sources close to former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, reported that Musk has refused to allow Ukraine to use Starlink for directing long-range strikes deep inside Russia. According to the publication, Musk’s position is motivated by a desire to avoid further escalation and to encourage negotiations.