US negotiators are pushing Kyiv to grant access to its critical minerals. As part of the negotiations, they've hinted at cutting off Ukraine's access to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system if a deal isn't reached, according to the three sources acquainted with the matter informed Reuters.

After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected an initial proposal from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US and Ukrainian officials discussed the possibility of Ukraine losing access to SpaceX's Starlink internet service, per the source.

Starlink has been essential in maintaining internet connectivity in Ukraine, particularly for military operations amid the ongoing war. The issue resurfaced during a meeting on Thursday between the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg and Zelenskyy.

One source briefed on the discussions said Ukraine was warned that Starlink access could soon be cut off unless a deal on critical minerals was reached. The source spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.

"Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star," according to the source. "Losing Starlink would be a massive blow."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected demands from former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration for $500 billion worth of Ukraine's mineral resources as repayment for American wartime aid. He argued that the U.S. has not provided concrete security guarantees in exchange.

On Friday, Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian and U.S. officials were working on an agreement, while Trump expressed confidence that a deal would be reached soon.

Elon Musk initially sent thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February 2022, helping to restore communications disrupted by the war. Musk was widely praised in Ukraine for this move, but later, in the fall of 2022, he restricted access to the service as he became more critical of Kyiv's conflict management.

Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers remain divided over Trump’s push for a quick resolution to the war, and some have also questioned Musk’s sweeping cuts to federal workers and agencies.

Melinda Haring, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, emphasised that Starlink is crucial for Ukraine’s military operations, particularly for controlling drones, which are a key part of its defence strategy.

"Losing Starlink would be a game changer," said Melinda Haring, adding its importance to Ukraine’s military operations. She pointed out that Ukraine has now reached a 1:1 balance with Russia in terms of drone warfare and artillery fire. Ukraine can operate a diverse range of drones, including sea drones, surveillance drones, and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Ukrainian embassy in Washington, the White House, and the U.S. Department of Defence have not yet responded to requests for comment. SpaceX, the company that operates Starlink, has also remained silent.

Last fall, Ukraine proposed allowing its allies to invest in its critical minerals. This initiative was part of its "victory plan," which aimed to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiation position and push Moscow toward peace talks.

Trump liked the idea, remarking that he wants Ukraine to provide the U.S. with rare earths and other minerals in exchange for America's financial support in its war efforts.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned down a detailed proposal from the United States that would have given Washington and American companies a 50 per cent share of Ukraine’s critical minerals. These resources include graphite, uranium, titanium and lithium, an essential material for electric vehicle batteries.

From then, tensions have risen between the two leaders, with Trump rebuking Zelenskyy on Wednesday, calling him "a dictator without elections." This came after Zelenskyy accused Trump of being influenced by Russian disinformation, responding to Trump’s claim that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war.