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Finnish President Urges Musk to Expand Starlink So Ukraine Can Strike Russian Missile Launchers
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Finnish President Alexander Stubb urged Elon Musk on September 24 to expand Starlink coverage over Russian territory so Ukraine can strike Russian ballistic missile launchers, Reuters reported.
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Stubb made the appeal in an interview with Reuters in New York, where world leaders had gathered for the United Nations General Assembly.
He argued that expanded Starlink coverage could help Ukraine locate and target mobile launchers operating from Russian territory before they fire missiles.
According to Reuters, Starlink currently does not operate over Russian territory.
Ukrainian officials believe enabling the service there would allow Ukrainian weapons to strike mobile ballistic missile launchers located within several hundred kilometers of the border.
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Stubb said allowing Ukraine to use Starlink in areas where ballistic missile launchers operate, including temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory and Russia, could save lives.
He argued that the capability could, “to a certain extent,” serve as a form of air defense by helping Ukraine target launchers before missiles are fired.
The appeal comes as Ukraine prepares for another winter of Russian attacks on its energy and heating infrastructure.
Reuters reported that Russian ballistic missile strikes reached record levels during the summer, while Ukraine faces a shortage of interceptors.
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Ukraine’s Patriot systems are currently its only available air-defense capability capable of intercepting such ballistic missiles, Reuters reported.
Interceptor stocks remain severely depleted, while additional supplies are uncertain.
Stubb identified three priorities for Ukraine ahead of winter: strengthening air defenses, protecting energy infrastructure, and securing financing.
He also said Finland was preparing a winter support package, adding that he did not expect the war to end before the season begins.
During the interview, Stubb also discussed possible paths toward ending the war.
He said an unconditional ceasefire would be the simplest starting point, followed by negotiations over security guarantees, territorial issues, reconstruction, and compensation.
Stubb said another possible outcome would be to freeze the war along the current line of contact, with 30-kilometer buffer zones on each side.
He also pointed to a more limited ceasefire that would cover energy- and grain-related targets as another option.
The Finnish president’s appeal follows earlier Ukrainian efforts to secure expanded Starlink access for operations against Russian missile launchers.
In late July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked US President Donald Trump during closed-door White House talks to help secure Musk’s approval for expanded Starlink use, The Atlantic reported at the time.
The proposal was intended to help Ukraine target mobile Russian ballistic missile launchers before winter.
Trump gave no firm commitment during the meeting and said he would consider the request and discuss it with Musk, according to officials cited in the earlier reporting.
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