Donald Tusk Photo:Getty Images
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on allies to respect and avoid arrogance in a post on Platform X. His words came a day after a heated argument between senior US and Polish officials over the operation of Starlink satellite internet in Ukraine.
Tusk wrote in English: “True leadership means respect for partners and allies. Even for the smallest and weakest. No arrogance. Friends, think about it.” Although he did not directly mention the United States, his message came immediately after a high-profile conflict.
It all started with a statement by Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, who threatened that “the entire front line of Ukraine will fall” if he stopped Starlink. Musk expressed his indignation at the war being dragged out and effectively echoed Donald Trump’s rhetoric, saying that Ukraine was doomed to defeat.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski gave a sharp response to Musk. He stressed that the Polish government pays for Starlink services for Ukraine, spending about $50 million a year. “If SpaceX turns out to be an unreliable supplier, we will have to look for an alternative,” he said.
US Senator Marco Rubio defended Musk, who responded sharply to the Polish minister: “Say thank you, because without Starlink, Ukraine would have lost a long time ago, and the Russians would have already been on the border with Poland.” Musk supported him, writing: “This is absolutely right.”
In response to the criticism, Musk addressed Sikorsky personally: “Shut up, little man. You’re only paying a fraction of the cost. And there is no alternative to Starlink”. The Polish minister responded diplomatically: “Thank you, Marko, for confirming that Ukraine’s brave soldiers can rely on the vital internet that the United States and Poland jointly provide.”
Diplomatic tensions have increased amid reports that the US government has already restricted Ukraine’s access to satellite imagery and reduced intelligence sharing. This is part of Washington’s political pressure on Kyiv amid Donald Trump’s attempts to find a quick solution to the war.
Against the backdrop of these developments, shares of the French-British satellite internet operator Eutelsat have risen by 650% over the past week, sparking rumours of a possible replacement of Starlink as the main provider for Ukraine.
Poland and its allies are sending a clear signal that support for Ukraine is not “charity” from the United States, but a conscious contribution to European security. Time will tell whether the conflict between the allies will escalate further.
