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Volodymyr Zelenskyy requests President Trump's help to secure expanded Starlink access for Ukrainian strikes inside Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested that President Trump persuade Elon Musk to allow Ukraine to use the Starlink satellite system to guide strikes deep inside Russian territory. During a white house meeting, Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued that expanded access would provide more accurate targeting for drones, helping to neutralize Russian missile launchers while reducing Ukraine's reliance on increasingly scarce U.S. Patriot air defense interceptors. While SpaceX currently permits use of the system within Ukrainian territory, it has restricted use inside Russia. The administration announced that while President Trump is considering the Zelenskyy request, he has not yet made a formal commitment. This shift follows a recent move by the administration to offer Ukraine a license to manufacture the Patriots domestically rather than providing a300 additional interceptors. Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine's readiness to assist the U.S. in countering Iranian drone attacks in the Middle East, leveraging their experience in unmanned warfare. Zelenskyy told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the request for Starlink access is a straightforward need for long-term accuracy in targeting.

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