Poland’s top diplomat wants Elon Musk to aim his ambitions beyond Earth and stay out of European security affairs.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski delivered that message Friday during a conference in Łódź, warning the tech magnate that blending commerce with geopolitics rarely ends well. The remarks mark another chapter in an ongoing public feud between the two figures over Starlink’s role in Ukraine’s war effort.
“Mixing business with politics usually concludes badly, especially when we talk about Elon Musk,” Sikorski said. He added that he respects Musk as an inventor and hopes the SpaceX founder reaches Mars someday.
The friction centers on Starlink, the satellite network that has become critical infrastructure for Ukrainian forces battling Russian aggression. Ukrainian officials reported this month that Starshield, the military variant of Starlink, suffered severe service restrictions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the cuts could cost lives.
Sikorski accused Musk of trying to “interfere in the politics of different countries.” The service disruptions coincided with deepening strains between Kyiv and Washington after the White House cleared Russia to resume diesel sales on global markets.
Poland finances Ukraine’s Starlink access to the tune of roughly $50 million each year. Warsaw views that investment as core to its support for Kyiv’s defense against Moscow.
Meanwhile, European alternatives have begun emerging. Finnish companies ICEYE and Nokia announced Thursday a partnership with Ukraine’s defense ministry to build an independent satellite communications system.
Sikorski argued Europe holds significant leverage in any settlement. The continent funds Ukraine’s government, retains frozen Russian assets, and supplies weapons to Kyiv. As a result, he said, Moscow has accepted that no deal can emerge from Washington alone.
“Europe holds the cards,” Sikorski said. “Russia has realized that this cannot be resolved solely by an agreement with the US.”
