US President Donald Trump has declined to back a proposal that would allow Ukraine to use Starlink connectivity for strikes on Russian territory, the Financial Times reported, citing people who attended a meeting in the Oval Office.

According to the newspaper, Vladimir Zelensky asked Trump to raise the issue with American businessman Elon Musk. Kiev wanted permission to use Starlink beyond Ukrainian territory. Trump, however, gave no clear approval and, according to the FT’s sources, showed no willingness to endorse the proposal.

The position of Musk himself remains another obstacle for Kiev. The billionaire has previously called for an end to the conflict, making his stance on the use of the satellite network for attacks deep inside Russia a significant factor. The Financial Times also pointed to the dismissal of former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who had maintained contacts with Musk.

Earlier in August, The Atlantic reported that Musk had refused to allow Kiev to use Starlink for targeting during strikes against sites deep inside Russia. According to the magazine, the decision was driven by concerns that such use could lead to a further escalation of the conflict.

The dispute over Starlink comes as Trump also faces a broader decision over future US support for Ukraine. University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer previously argued that the US president would soon have to choose between seeking additional funding for Kiev from Congress and ending further assistance.

According to Mearsheimer, Trump is interested in cutting off support for Ukraine if doing so could help bring the conflict closer to an end.