EU leaders discussed on Friday ways to reduce Ukraine's reliance on the Starlink satellite communication system that supports its military operations, after the US system experienced disruptions that affected its use in Kyiv.
Agence France-Presse quoted EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas as saying that the Starlink system constitutes a vital element of Ukraine's defensive capabilities, noting that Europe currently lacks an alternative capable of compensating for this technology in the short term.
Kallas pointed to the need to develop European capabilities in space communications and address the technical gaps plaguing the continent, while several European leaders considered that building independent alternatives has become a strategic priority for European security and defense.
For his part, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kļaviņš considered that the Starlink network remains essential for Ukraine at present, warning that developing similar European alternatives requires time and significant investments.
These moves come after reports of a temporary slowdown in the network's performance within Ukraine, which affected field communications and raised questions about the reliability of systems relied upon under war conditions.
The issue appeared on the agenda of the European Summit with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with Kyiv's increasing reliance on Starlink since the outbreak of war with Russia in 2022 to compensate for damage to communications infrastructure.
Amid growing European concerns about reliance on external technological systems, EU countries are working on developing independent space communication projects to enhance digital and military sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign companies and technologies in strategic sectors.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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