**Elon Musk Denies US Threat to Cut Starlink**
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has denied reports that the United States threatened to shut off Starlink in Ukraine unless Kyiv agreed to a minerals deal.
Musk made his statement on Twitter, calling the claim “false” and accusing Reuters of lying. He offered no evidence to back up his statement.
**Background**
Starlink terminals are critical for securing Ukraine’s battlefield communications. The US began providing these terminals to Ukraine shortly after the full-scale invasion.
However, Musk has been vocal in criticizing Ukraine. In a tweet, he mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for calling Ukraine an independent country.
**Reports of Threats**
Reuters reported on February 21 that the US had threatened to cut off Starlink service if Kyiv didn’t agree to a minerals deal. The report cited sources saying that negotiations were ongoing after President Zelensky refused an initial proposal.
President Donald Trump has said that a deal is near, but Ukraine’s President Zelensky has not agreed to it yet.
**Consequences**
The European Union is discussing how to seize Russia’s frozen central bank assets to provide financial and military aid to Ukraine. The US may be scaling back its support for Ukraine, causing concern among EU allies.
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