“Negotiations are ongoing. Everyone in our building knows we’re going to pay them,” a senior Pentagon official told the network, adding that the Defense Department wants to get something in writing “because we’re worried he’s going to change his mind.” In September, SpaceX sent a letter to the Pentagon, asking the Department of Defense to take over the payment of costs related to Ukraine’s use of the Starlink internet service. On October 15, after the public outcry, Musk appeared to backtrack on the decision to seek help from the US government. “Hell… we’ll just keep funding the Ukrainian government for free,” Musk tweeted, later telling the Financial Times the company would do so “indefinitely.” According to CNN, last month’s shutdown was a “huge problem” for Ukraine’s military. In March, the country bought the 1,300 terminals from a British company. SpaceX reportedly charges Ukraine $2,500 a month to keep each unit operational. The country eventually could no longer afford to pay the monthly bill of $3.25 million and requested financial assistance from the British Ministry of Defence. After discussion, the two agreed to prioritize other military spending. “We support a number of terminals that are of direct tactical utility to the Ukrainian military in repelling a Russian invasion,” a British official told CNN. “We review and prioritize all new requests in terms of the impact the contribution would have on supporting Ukraine to defend its people against Putin’s deplorable invasion.” Should SpaceX and the US Department of Defense eventually sign an agreement, it is unclear whether the Pentagon will have more control over the Starlink service in Ukraine. The company is currently deciding where Ukrainian troops can use the terminals.
