The key facts

  • Zelensky: different countries are developing their own versions of Starlink
  • Le Monde: the EU may connect Ukraine to its alternative only by 2029
  • Putin called Rassvet the first step in creating Russian low-orbit satellites

Zelensky's statement

Several countries are developing their own versions of the Starlink satellite communications system. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as reported by Clash Report citing his remarks. «At present, different countries are developing their own versions of Starlink. This is the right approach, because the key question is who controls the on and off buttons,» he noted.

The European alternative and timelines

According to Gazeta.Ru, in October the newspaper Le Monde wrote that the European Union may connect Ukraine to its own Starlink alternative only by 2029. That same month, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the EU intends to deploy its own secure satellite communications system, IRIS², which is called the «European Starlink». Zelensky had also previously said that Europe is working on its own Starlink alternative.

Russia's Rassvet system

At the end of October, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia's Rassvet system was only the first step in creating domestic low-orbit spacecraft. Earlier, the main difficulty for Europe in replacing Starlink was also named. Thus, Zelensky's statement reflects a broader trend: several countries are simultaneously seeking to reduce their dependence on a single commercial satellite network, but the timeline for the European alternative's arrival, according to available reports, remains distant.