US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and tech billionaire Elon Musk have engaged in a heated exchange with Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski regarding the use of Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine.
The disagreement began when Musk stated on X that Ukraine’s “entire front line” would collapse if he chose to disable Starlink. In response, Sikorski pointed out that Poland was funding Starlink’s use in Ukraine and warned that any threat to cut off service would prompt a search for an alternative network.
Rubio sided with Musk, dismissing Sikorski’s remarks and suggesting he should show gratitude. Musk further escalated the tension by referring to Sikorski as a “small man.”
The clash appeared to draw a reaction from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who indirectly urged Poland’s allies to treat smaller partners with respect rather than condescension.
Starlink, a product of Musk’s SpaceX, provides high-speed internet to remote regions and has become a critical tool for the Ukrainian military during the ongoing conflict.
The debate was sparked after Musk posted that Starlink was the “backbone of the Ukrainian army” and that its front lines would collapse without it. Sikorski countered, emphasizing that Poland’s Ministry of Digitization spends around $50 million annually to keep Starlink operational for Ukraine. He added that if SpaceX proved to be unreliable, Poland would have no choice but to seek another provider.
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