A heated exchange erupted last Sunday, with Musk, Sikorski, and Rubio engaging in a series of public tweets regarding the Starlink satellite system.
On Monday, a spokesperson from Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paweł Wroński, assured that the U.S. had confirmed that Starlink service would remain available to Ukraine.
In response to Musk’s tweet, Sikorski reminded the billionaire that Poland is paying for the Starlink system, which Musk dismissed with the remark, "Be quiet, small man."
Tensions over Starlink in Ukraine
Süddeutsche Zeitung and Frankfurter Allgemeine reported on the heated exchange, quoting Sikorski’s comments about Poland’s $50 million payment for Starlink and Musk’s dismissive response. Both papers noted the escalating tensions over the issue.
ZDF emphasized Poland’s critical role in the Starlink debate, highlighting the strategic importance of satellite data for Ukraine and pointing to the French-British satellite company Eutelsat as a growing alternative to Musk’s Starlink.
Meanwhile, n-tv drew attention to the diminishing support for Ukraine from the Trump administration, suggesting that the U.S. is increasingly shifting blame onto Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Global coverage of Musk, Rubio, and Ukraine debate
The Independent framed the exchange between Musk and Rubio as an example of how U.S. foreign policy has become mired in public accusations. Rubio echoed the White House's view, asserting that Europe has not sufficiently thanked the U.S. for its ongoing support for Ukraine.
The Daily Beast argued that Musk and Rubio were attempting to pressure Poland, an important ally in the region.
Reuters reported that U.S. negotiators had previously considered the possibility of cutting off Ukraine's access to Starlink. However, after the fiery exchange with Sikorski, Musk pledged to maintain the service for Ukraine.
France24 focused on Musk’s commitment to keeping Starlink operational for Ukraine, while other U.S. outlets underscored Rubio’s quick defense of Musk.
According to The Washington Times, Rubio’s rapid response reflected an attempt to prevent further divisions within Trump’s cabinet, while The New York Times reported on the tense exchange between Musk and Rubio during a Thursday meeting of the U.S. cabinet.
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Source: IAR/PAP/TVN24/BBC/AFP/ZDF/Reuters/X/@p_zuchowski/@peterbakernyt/@nexta_tv