'Extortion, pure and simple': Onlookers shocked by Trump threat to cut Ukraine's internet
Adam Nichols
February 22, 2025
: Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
U.S. negotiators are threatening to effectively cut off Ukraine’s access to the internet if the country’s leaders don’t agree to hand over minerals worth billions of dollars, according to a report Saturday.
Reuters was told by three sources that Trump’s representatives have suggested ending Ukraine’s use of the Starlink satellite internet system.
It would effectively take the war-torn nation offline.
The sources said the threat was brought up with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he initially turned down the mineral proposal.
The move left onlookers shocked.
“Extortion, pure and simple,” said lawyer and outspoken Trump nemesis George Conway.
Writer Thom Hartmann commented, "Russian asset."
On Thursday, Zelensky was told his country faced “imminent shutoff,” Reuters reported.
ALSO READ: 'Gotta be kidding': Jim Jordan scrambles as he's confronted over Musk 'double standard'
" Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star," the outlet's source said. "Losing Starlink ... would be a massive blow."
Trump has suggested Zelensky agree to give Trump’s administration $500 billion in mineral access to repay money spent by the U.S. to support the nation.
Musk was hailed as a hero when he provided thousands of Starlink terminals as the Russians destroyed communications infrastructure after its 2022 invasion, Reuters reported.
Melinda Haring, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, told Reuters, “Losing Starlink would be a game changer.”
Adam Nichols
February 22, 2025
: Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
U.S. negotiators are threatening to effectively cut off Ukraine’s access to the internet if the country’s leaders don’t agree to hand over minerals worth billions of dollars, according to a report Saturday.
Reuters was told by three sources that Trump’s representatives have suggested ending Ukraine’s use of the Starlink satellite internet system.
It would effectively take the war-torn nation offline.
The sources said the threat was brought up with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he initially turned down the mineral proposal.
The move left onlookers shocked.
“Extortion, pure and simple,” said lawyer and outspoken Trump nemesis George Conway.
Writer Thom Hartmann commented, "Russian asset."
On Thursday, Zelensky was told his country faced “imminent shutoff,” Reuters reported.
ALSO READ: 'Gotta be kidding': Jim Jordan scrambles as he's confronted over Musk 'double standard'
" Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star," the outlet's source said. "Losing Starlink ... would be a massive blow."
Trump has suggested Zelensky agree to give Trump’s administration $500 billion in mineral access to repay money spent by the U.S. to support the nation.
Musk was hailed as a hero when he provided thousands of Starlink terminals as the Russians destroyed communications infrastructure after its 2022 invasion, Reuters reported.
Melinda Haring, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, told Reuters, “Losing Starlink would be a game changer.”
US proposes Ukraine UN text omitting mention of occupied territory: diplomats
By AFP
February 21, 2025
A Ukrainian-European text proposed at the United Nations stresses the need to redouble diplomatic efforts to end the war in 2025 - Copyright AFP Genya SAVILOV
The United States proposed Friday a United Nations resolution on the Ukraine conflict that omitted any mention of Kyiv’s territory occupied by Russia, diplomatic sources told AFP.
Washington’s proposal comes amid an intensifying feud between US President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky which has seen Trump claim it was “not important” for his Ukrainian counterpart to be involved in peace talks.
It also appeared to rival a separate draft resolution produced by Kyiv and its European allies, countries that Trump has also sought to sideline from talks on the future of the three-year-old war.
The Ukrainian-European text stresses the need to redouble diplomatic efforts to end the war this year, noting several initiatives to that end, while also blaming Russia for the invasion and committing to Kyiv’s “territorial integrity.”
The text also repeats the UN General Assembly’s previous demands for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
Those votes had wide support, with around 140 of the 193 member states voting in favor.
Washington’s text, seen by AFP, calls for a “swift end to the conflict” without mentioning Kyiv’s territorial integrity, and was welcomed by Moscow’s ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia as “a good move” — but stressed that it did not address the “roots” of the conflict.
In a break with past resolutions proposed and supported by Washington, the latest draft, produced ahead of a General Assembly meeting Monday to coincide with the third anniversary of the war, does not criticize Moscow.
Instead the 65-word text begins by “mourning the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”
It then continued by “reiterating” that the United Nation’s purpose is the maintenance of “international peace and security” — without singling out Moscow as the source of the conflict.
France’s ambassador to the UN, Nicolas De Riviere, the EU’s only permanent member of the council, said he had no comment “for the moment.”
“A stripped-down text of this type that does not condemn Russian aggression or explicitly reference Ukraine’s territorial integrity looks like a betrayal of Kyiv and a jab at the EU, but also a show of disdain for core principles of international law,” said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.
“I think even a lot of states that favor an early end to the war will worry that the US is ignoring core elements of the UN Charter.”
By AFP
February 21, 2025
A Ukrainian-European text proposed at the United Nations stresses the need to redouble diplomatic efforts to end the war in 2025 - Copyright AFP Genya SAVILOV
The United States proposed Friday a United Nations resolution on the Ukraine conflict that omitted any mention of Kyiv’s territory occupied by Russia, diplomatic sources told AFP.
Washington’s proposal comes amid an intensifying feud between US President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky which has seen Trump claim it was “not important” for his Ukrainian counterpart to be involved in peace talks.
It also appeared to rival a separate draft resolution produced by Kyiv and its European allies, countries that Trump has also sought to sideline from talks on the future of the three-year-old war.
The Ukrainian-European text stresses the need to redouble diplomatic efforts to end the war this year, noting several initiatives to that end, while also blaming Russia for the invasion and committing to Kyiv’s “territorial integrity.”
The text also repeats the UN General Assembly’s previous demands for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
Those votes had wide support, with around 140 of the 193 member states voting in favor.
Washington’s text, seen by AFP, calls for a “swift end to the conflict” without mentioning Kyiv’s territorial integrity, and was welcomed by Moscow’s ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia as “a good move” — but stressed that it did not address the “roots” of the conflict.
In a break with past resolutions proposed and supported by Washington, the latest draft, produced ahead of a General Assembly meeting Monday to coincide with the third anniversary of the war, does not criticize Moscow.
Instead the 65-word text begins by “mourning the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”
It then continued by “reiterating” that the United Nation’s purpose is the maintenance of “international peace and security” — without singling out Moscow as the source of the conflict.
France’s ambassador to the UN, Nicolas De Riviere, the EU’s only permanent member of the council, said he had no comment “for the moment.”
“A stripped-down text of this type that does not condemn Russian aggression or explicitly reference Ukraine’s territorial integrity looks like a betrayal of Kyiv and a jab at the EU, but also a show of disdain for core principles of international law,” said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.
“I think even a lot of states that favor an early end to the war will worry that the US is ignoring core elements of the UN Charter.”
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