U.S. negotiators have been urging Kyiv to grant access to Ukraine‘s essential mineral resources, suggesting that the country could face restrictions on its use of Elon Musk‘s crucial Starlink satellite internet service, according to three sources familiar with the discussions, as reported by Reuters.

The topic of Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink was raised during talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declined an initial proposal from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the sources indicated.

Starlink is vital for providing internet connectivity to Ukraine, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict. The matter was revisited on Thursday during meetings between Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine, and Zelenskiy, as noted by one source who was informed about the discussions.

During this meeting, Ukraine was warned that it could face an imminent cutoff of the Starlink service unless an agreement regarding critical minerals was reached, according to the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations. “Starlink is essential for Ukraine. They view it as their guiding light,” the source remarked. “Losing Starlink would be a significant setback.”

Zelenskiy has previously dismissed demands from the Trump administration for $500 billion in mineral resources from Ukraine as repayment for wartime assistance, arguing that the U.S. has not provided specific security assurances. On Friday, the Ukrainian president stated that both U.S. and Ukrainian teams were collaborating on an agreement, with Trump expressing optimism that a deal would be finalized soon.

Musk expedited the delivery of thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine to replace communication services that were disrupted by Russia following its invasion in February 2022. While initially celebrated as a hero in Ukraine, Musk had previously limited access to the service at least once in the fall of 2022 as he became increasingly critical of Kyiv’s approach to the conflict.

U.S. lawmakers are experiencing a split regarding Trump’s push for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict, with some expressing concerns over Musk’s rapid initiatives to reduce the federal workforce and close government agencies. Melinda Haring, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, emphasized the critical role of Starlink in supporting Ukraine’s drone operations, which are vital to its military strategy. “The loss of Starlink would significantly alter the situation,” Haring remarked, highlighting that Ukraine has achieved parity with Russia in drone deployment and artillery usage. Ukraine boasts a diverse array of drone capabilities, including maritime drones, reconnaissance drones, and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Ukrainian embassy in Washington, along with the White House and the U.S. Department of Defense, did not provide immediate comments on the matter. Similarly, SpaceX, the operator of Starlink, has not yet responded to inquiries.

Last fall, Ukraine proposed the idea of opening its critical mineral resources to investment from allies as part of a “victory plan” aimed at strengthening its negotiating position and compelling Moscow to engage in talks. Trump has supported this notion, suggesting that Ukraine could supply the U.S. with rare earth elements and other minerals in exchange for financial assistance in its war efforts.

However, Zelenskiy recently turned down a detailed U.S. proposal that would have allocated 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals—such as graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries—to Washington and American companies. This has led to a growing divide between the two leaders, with Trump labeling Zelenskiy as “a dictator without elections” after Zelenskiy accused Trump of being ensnared in a Russian disinformation narrative, a rebuttal to Trump’s claim that Ukraine instigated the war.