SpaceX can no longer fund Ukraine's Starlink internet, company says

The Elon Musk-led space company SpaceX can no longer afford to foot the bill and handle the logistics of operating Ukraine's Starlink internet, letters from company executives reveal.

SpaceX’s director of government sales, in a letter CNN obtained, wrote that "[w]e are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time." Starlink uses satellites to provide internet and communication services within the country amid the destruction of its conventional infrastructure. The system uses more than 20,000 donated satellites.

The firm has estimated that funding the system for the next twelve months could cost up to $400 million and SpaceX has asked the U.S. government to take over the cost, the outlet reported. Outside consultants also doubt the company has the resources to meet Ukrainian demand.

Starlink has provided critical communication amid the ongoing conflict, especially amid coordinated efforts to retake territory from Russia. However, reports have already emerged of comms outages in the field.

The news comes as Musk himself has ruffled feathers in Kyiv with a proposed peace plan he put up for a poll on Twitter in which Ukraine would concede territory and stay out of NATO in exchange for peace. Ukrainian diplomats, including President Volodymyr Zelensky were quick to condemn Musk's suggestion.

One, in particular, told the Tesla founder to "f--- off." He did not self-censor. Musk has since said that he is merely following the advice of that official, according to CNN.