Zelensky Asked Trump for a Favor From Elon Musk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested that President Trump facilitate an agreement with Elon Musk to allow Starlink to guide drone strikes inside Russian territory. The proposal aims to compensate for a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles amid ongoing conflict.
Why it matters
This request underscores the critical role of private technology infrastructure in modern warfare and the geopolitical influence held by tech leaders like Elon Musk.
Ukraine wants to start using Musk’s Starlink to target ballistic-missile launchers inside Russia.
In this handout photo from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s social-media account, Zelensky and President Trump meet in the Oval Office on July 28, 2026. ( Zelensky Social Media Account / Anadolu / Getty ) July 30, 2026, 6:44 PM ET Share Save D uring closed-door talks at the White House on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky laid out a plan for his country to survive another winter of war with Russia. For it to work, President Trump would need to call in a big favor from his ally Elon Musk. But according to two officials familiar with the conversation, Trump was noncommittal, leaving the future of the plan in doubt.
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