Musk asserted on X that Ukraine’s entire frontline would collapse without Starlink. Sikorski countered, stating that Poland funds the service in Ukraine and warned that any threat to shut it down would prompt a search for an alternative provider.
Rubio dismissed Sikorski’s remarks, urging him to be grateful. Musk went further, calling Sikorski a “small man.”
The argument ended after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged allies to treat weaker partners with respect rather than arrogance.
Starlink, a SpaceX initiative, has been crucial for Ukraine’s military communications since the Russian invasion in February 2022. The system, used extensively by Ukrainian forces, includes tens of thousands of terminals, with up to 500 purchased by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2023.
The exchange began when Musk described Starlink as the "backbone of the Ukrainian army," claiming that without it, Ukraine’s frontline would collapse. Sikorski responded that Poland’s Ministry of Digitization funds the service at an annual cost of approximately $50 million. He also criticized the ethics of threatening a country under attack and warned that Poland would seek alternative providers if SpaceX proved unreliable.
Elon Musk and Marco Rubio fight in White House cabinet meeting
Rubio refuted Sikorski’s claims, insisting no one had threatened to cut Ukraine off from Starlink. He added that Ukraine would have already lost the war without the system, with Russian forces potentially reaching Poland’s border.
Musk then directly insulted Sikorski, stating, “Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.”
Source: BBC