Denys Shtilerman, chief designer and co-owner of Ukrainian company Fire Point, has spoken out against a potential deal under which Ukraine would suspend strikes on Russian energy infrastructure for 100 days in exchange for expanded Starlink coverage deeper into Russia. He called the proposal blackmail and said Ukraine should not have to give up strikes on Russian energy facilities in return for the ability to target missile and drone launchers.
Shtilerman made the comments in a post on X, responding to a Wall Street Journal editorial titled “Zelensky Is Open to a Starlink Deal”.
According to the Fire Point co-owner, the WSJ editorial board endorsed a proposal under which Ukraine would suspend attacks on Russian energy infrastructure for 100 days. In exchange, the United States would extend Starlink coverage approximately 300 kilometers into Russian territory.
This would allow Ukrainian forces to use satellite communications to strike Russian missile and drone launchers.
Citing the WSJ, Shtilerman said the proposal had been presented to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by Republican Senators Roger Wicker and Kevin Cramer.
The American newspaper’s editorial board considered the arrangement worthwhile for Ukraine. Shtilerman disagreed.
“In my opinion, no. This is not how relations between allies should work,” he said.
Why 300 kilometers of Starlink coverage is not enough
Shtilerman believes the proposed expansion of Starlink coverage would not give Ukraine sufficient capabilities to counter Russian missile attacks.
He pointed out that Kharkiv lies approximately 30 kilometers from the Russian border, Sumy around 25–30 kilometers away, and Kyiv just over 200 kilometers from the border.
Meanwhile, Russian forces can launch missiles from locations far beyond the proposed 300-kilometer zone.
In the designer’s view, extending coverage up to 470 kilometers into Russia would be a more acceptable option.
“Therefore, 300 kilometers is not parity. It is yet another artificial restriction on Ukraine’s capabilities. A range of up to 470 kilometers would at least significantly expand the area in which Russian launchers could no longer operate with impunity,” Shtilerman wrote.
“The ability to strike launchers should not come at the price of protecting Russian oil refineries”
The Fire Point co-owner also criticized restrictions on Starlink and Starshield services that, according to him, had been imposed without warning.
He said such decisions cost Ukrainian lives, while Ukraine is now effectively being asked to make concessions to regain or expand critically important technological capabilities.
“First, Starlink and Starshield, which are critically important to the Ukrainian army, are restricted without warning. Such decisions cost Ukrainian lives. Then Ukraine is offered the restoration or expansion of these capabilities in exchange for refraining from strikes against one of the most vulnerable parts of Russia’s war economy. This is not a deal. This is blackmail,” he stressed.
Shtilerman noted that the WSJ editorial board itself recognizes Ukraine’s right to increase pressure on Russia and considers destroying missile launchers preferable to intercepting missiles that have already been fired.
However, he argued that the ability to strike such targets should not require Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil infrastructure.
“But the ability to strike the ‘archer’ should not be purchased at the price of guaranteeing the safety of Russian oil refineries,” the designer wrote.
He emphasized that Ukraine needs both the ability to destroy Russian launchers and the ability to strike infrastructure supporting Russia’s war machine.
“Russia, for some reason, does not have to choose. Why should Ukraine?” Shtilerman asked.
Shtilerman criticizes the Trump administration’s position
The Fire Point co-owner also referred to the “energy ceasefire” announced by Donald Trump, which, according to him, Ukraine and Russia had never actually agreed to between themselves.
He stressed that Russia had continued striking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, yet Kyiv was once again being asked to make concessions.
“Russia violates the ‘ceasefire’. Russia continues to strike. But once again, Ukraine is the one being asked to make concessions,” he said.
At the same time, Shtilerman urged people not to equate the United States with its current administration.
He thanked the American people, Congress and the military for their assistance to Ukraine throughout the war, while sharply criticizing the Trump administration’s recent decisions.
“Through its recent actions, the current US administration is behaving not as an ally of Ukraine, but as an ally of Russia,” the Fire Point co-owner stated.
He expressed hope that the American political system could restore relations between Kyiv and Washington to a partnership in which Ukraine would not be forced to accept restrictions on its own defensive capabilities.
“Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine is defending itself. An ally helps Ukraine defeat the aggressor rather than bargaining with it over its right to defend itself,” Shtilerman concluded.
