Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Elon Musk angers Ukraine by claiming SpaceX can no longer afford to provide Starlink services, asks Pentagon to pick up the tab
War is Boring ^ | October 14, 2022 | Andy Wolf

Posted on 10/14/2022 12:47:21 PM PDT by Yo-Yo

There's no such thing as a free-ish ride.

Elon Musk and SpaceX will no longer be able to fund Starlink internet in the Ukraine, citing a deteriorating relationship with Kyiv.

The company claims it cannot push any more resources to assist the Ukrainian war effort at a rate approaching pro bono status, and has looked to the Pentagon to pick up the tab.

“We are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time,” SpaceX’s director of government sales wrote in a communique to news media.

On Friday, Musk tweeted that his “operation has cost SpaceX $80 million and will exceed $100 million by the end of the year.”

The Pentagon was notified the month prior to the announcement, citing it would cost nearly $400 million within a 12-month span.

An outside consultant notified the Pentagon that “SpaceX faces terribly difficult decisions here. I do not think they have the financial ability to provide any additional terminals or service as requested by General Zaluzhniy.”

SpaceX has been instrumental in turning the less-developed Ukrainian military’s luck around, helping turn them from an army on its last legs to one capable of pushing the Russians out of their country.

When Musk began looking into ways to push the peace process forward, CNN reported that Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, responded with harsh words.

““F*** off is my very diplomatic reply to you @elonmusk,” he replied.

Deteriorating relations between Musk and Kyiv -the latter having become accustomed to getting what they want at the expense of Western democracies and republics- is said to have played a major role in the tech company’s response.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: elon; globalistlibertarian; loserdopians; musk; putinistamogul; sponsorofterrorism; starlink; ukraine
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-102 next last
This is what happens when Musk proposes a peace plan for Ukraine and Ukraine criticizes him for it.
1 posted on 10/14/2022 12:47:21 PM PDT by Yo-Yo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Gibs-me-dat for FREE!


2 posted on 10/14/2022 12:49:19 PM PDT by House Atreides (I’m now ULTRA-MAGA-PRO-MAX)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

3 posted on 10/14/2022 12:49:35 PM PDT by cranked
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: House Atreides

Next thing you know, the deadbeat Ukies will have to actually PAY for the natural gas that they steal from the Gazprom pipelines...


4 posted on 10/14/2022 12:50:34 PM PDT by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Kudos for Musk. As a business man, why finance a failing venture like Ukraine? We send these assholes an average $50 billion and they cant afford their gear?

How much is that fag loser Zelensky’s new Miami mansion worth again?


5 posted on 10/14/2022 12:51:12 PM PDT by max americana (Fired leftards at work since 2008 at every election just to see them cry. I hate them all.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

for what reason should Musk provide this for free?


6 posted on 10/14/2022 12:52:37 PM PDT by EEGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

I saw on patriots.win that he had briefly been put on Ukraine’s kill list. Don’t know if it’s true, but if so it’s a great way of getting someone not to support you.


7 posted on 10/14/2022 12:56:21 PM PDT by packagingguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Not sure Musk should be pushing the camel's nose under his own Starlink tent.

He would have been better off bleeding Jack (since he's making Jack absurdly wealthy), Suckerberg, Tiny D Bezos, Thiel, and a host of buh-buh-buh-buh-bulbheads for an interim amount until the 118th Congress.

Then he could have packaged a full-year's ask in the next 'budget' rollout, no one would have noticed, not even the Putlims LOFL...Schandenfreude!

8 posted on 10/14/2022 12:56:54 PM PDT by StAnDeliver (Tanned, rested, and ready.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo
This is what happens when Musk proposes a peace plan for Ukraine and Ukraine criticizes him for it.

Nope.
Its what happens when you get fed up with spending a massive $20 million per month to support a Nazi Zelensky regime in Ukraine.
Ukraine can pay up now or lose the free Starlink internet support from Musk.

9 posted on 10/14/2022 12:56:54 PM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

You can’t really expect a private company to keep providing $100 million or $400 million service free of charge.

But it’s brilliant strategy by Musk. Provide free service to a war zone, proving how invaluble your service is, and then say you have to start charging.

The Pentagon and NATO will have to decide if Starlink is the best and most cost effective method going forward. And what the costs of changing horses mid stream will be. And they’ll either pay Elon or provide an alternative.

They will probably negotiate the rates down.


10 posted on 10/14/2022 12:57:04 PM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Of course Ukraine is angry with Elon.

Zelensky is a whiny little botch. As such, there’s no way he understands he should just say “Thank you.” for the free FREE service he’s been getting to wage is war.


11 posted on 10/14/2022 12:57:05 PM PDT by moovova
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Well I sure as hell don’t want my taxpayer dollars being used by the Pentagon to pay for this.


12 posted on 10/14/2022 12:57:14 PM PDT by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EEGator
for what reason should Musk provide this for free?

Shaddup and keep the free stuff coming. And I don't see a Ukraine flag after your name, citizen...

Yo-Yo

13 posted on 10/14/2022 12:57:24 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: max americana
"Kudos for Musk. As a business man, why finance a failing venture like Ukraine?"

Uh, he wants the Pentagon to pick up the tab...that means you and me.

14 posted on 10/14/2022 12:58:17 PM PDT by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: kiryandil

Forget angering Ukraine. Musk angers this U.S. citizen every time he asks U.S. taxpayers to pay for his wealth.


15 posted on 10/14/2022 12:58:17 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Where’s your pronouns you cisgender, mansplaining, patriarchal Nazi?!?!


16 posted on 10/14/2022 12:58:24 PM PDT by EEGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Well that’s what happens when you tell your patron to eff off. Zelensky is an idiot.


17 posted on 10/14/2022 12:58:44 PM PDT by yldstrk (Bingo! We have a winner!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DannyTN

There is a rumor that Russians have figured out how to jam starlink.


18 posted on 10/14/2022 12:59:24 PM PDT by Fido969 (45 is Superman! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

The more this goes on and the more I hear about the entitlement mentality of the Ukrainians toward taking my tax money and the money/efforts of others, the more I am really starting to dislike them.

I started out being kind of indifferent, but now I my disdain for Ukraine is increasing with each day. Not another penny!!!!


19 posted on 10/14/2022 12:59:46 PM PDT by Codeflier (I am just going to assume you are a Democrat if you call me a Putin supporter and ignore you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EEGator

Hey! Who you calling “patriarchal”??


20 posted on 10/14/2022 1:00:47 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-102 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson