Musk says SpaceX cannot keep funding Ukraine Starlink

Elon Musk has said his rocket steadfast SpaceX cannot proceed indefinitely paying for Ukraine's Starlink net work successful his latest spat with Kyiv. 

In February, Mr Musk, the world's richest man, activated his company's outer net strategy successful Ukraine to support its subject and radical online. 

But past period the Tesla proprietor asked the Pentagon to money the programme alternatively of him, according to US media. 

He precocious provoked Kyiv's ire by suggesting it cede territory. 

"SpaceX is not asking to recoup past expenses, but besides cannot money the existing strategy indefinitely," Mr Musk tweeted connected Friday, referring to his abstraction institution that makes the Starlink system.

Starlink works by providing broadband net done a web of satellites. It has proven captious for Ukraine's subject arsenic it fights to retake Ukrainian onshore from Russia. 

Ukraine credited Starlink this week with helping to reboot its infrastructure in key areas following much than 100 Russian rocket strikes.

But the programme costs $20m (£18m) per period to maintain, according to Mr Musk. He precocious said SpaceX has spent $80m truthful acold to support Ukraine online.

"In summation to terminals, we person to create, launch, support & replenish satellites & crushed stations," helium wrote connected Twitter. 

"We've besides had to support against cyberattacks & jamming, which are getting harder."

Ukraine's vice-prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, downplayed tensions with Mr Musk, penning connected Twitter that the billionaire "is among the world's apical backstage donors supporting Ukraine".

"Starlink is an indispensable constituent of our captious infrastructure," helium wrote. 

Earlier this month, Mr Musk tweeted retired a connection that Ukraine judge Russia's annexation of Crimea and let referendums successful Ukrainian regions invaded by Moscow. 

The Kremlin responded positively to the overture. 

But Ukraine's outgoing ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, posted a tweet telling Mr Musk to go away, utilizing a curse word.

Responding on Friday to a post referring to the ambassador's remark, Mr Musk said: "We're just following his recommendation."

Moscow has already declared 4 Ukrainian regions to beryllium portion of Russia, pursuing alleged referendums denounced arsenic fraudulent by Kyiv and its Western allies. Russia does not afloat power immoderate of the 4 regions.

Mr Musk has besides suggested the satellite should "formally" recognise Crimea - illegally annexed by Moscow successful 2014 - arsenic portion of Russia.

This week, Mr Musk denied that helium spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier releasing his Twitter poll. 

"I person spoken to Putin lone erstwhile and that was astir 18 months ago. The taxable substance was space," helium tweeted.

That connection came aft a deliberation vessel researcher claimed Mr Musk had personally told him astir the alleged conversation.