Zelensky Urges Trump to Sanction Russian and Chinese Firms Building Starlink Rival

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked Donald Trump to sanction the Russian and Chinese companies developing Rassvet, a satellite internet constellation intended to rival SpaceX's Starlink, according to reporting by the Financial Times cited by The Next Web .

Zelensky has raised the sanctions request with Trump on multiple occasions, including during a meeting in New York, as detailed in reports citing the Financial Times and Ukrainian news agency UNN.

The Rassvet network is under development by Russian technology company Bureau 1440. Zelensky stated that the system could begin operations by early next year, while highlighting foreign technical cooperation. "We know that China works on satellites, works on the possibility of helping Russia with a similar Starlink," Zelensky said.

Satellite connectivity remains central to military operations in Ukraine, where Starlink terminals maintain links for ground forces and unmanned aerial systems despite Russian electronic jamming efforts. An independent domestic constellation would provide Russian forces with a communications channel that neither the U.S. government nor SpaceX could disable.

Rassvet remains significantly behind Starlink in orbital deployment. Bureau 1440 launched its first 16 operational satellites in March and requires more than 250 operational spacecraft before it can provide broadband service. While the company previously postponed its timeline and targeted a commercial rollout in 2027, Zelensky's estimate suggests an accelerated deployment schedule.

Neither the White House nor SpaceX has publicly commented on the request.