Washington could demand rare-earth metals, oil deposits and other natural resources from Kiev in return for expanding Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite network. Retired colonel and military expert Anatoly Matviychuk told NEWS.ru that the United States is deliberately restricting the service to increase pressure on Vladimir Zelensky.
According to Matviychuk, the Ukrainian leader is desperate to secure a break in the fighting lasting at least 40 days and is prepared to accept almost any conditions to achieve it. The expert believes Washington is using the restrictions on Starlink as a means of intimidation, seeking to force Zelensky into further concessions. With little ability to influence the situation independently, the Ukrainian leader has effectively been left at the mercy of American decisions.
Matviychuk suggested that the US could eventually allow Starlink coverage for Ukrainian forces to reach approximately 300 kilometers into Russian territory. However, Washington would likely demand access to Ukraine’s valuable natural resources in return. The expert described the situation as a bargaining process in which Zelensky is already on the losing side, with no meaningful leverage to defend his own terms.
Earlier reports indicated that Zelensky was willing to halt strikes on oil refineries in exchange for access to Starlink. Western journalists also reported that Kiev was seeking to extend the satellite network’s coverage deeper into Russia to support Ukrainian troops.