Eutelsat confirms readiness to replace Starlink in Ukraine amid reduced US support

French satellite operator Eutelsat is in talks with the EU to replace Starlink in Ukraine as the US cuts its aid, Bloomberg reports.

The company's CEO, Eva Berneke, confirmed that Eutelsat is considering deploying 40,000 terminals, equivalent to the number currently used by Ukraine.

Eutelsat's OneWeb network consists of 600 satellites at an altitude of 1,200 km, while Starlink has 7,000 at an altitude of 550 km. While Starlink's lower orbit provides better connection speeds, OneWeb can offer stable connectivity, especially in military operations.

The rift between the US and Europe over support for Ukraine has deepened after a row between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. The US has since cut off military aid and limited intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Against this backdrop, the EU is stepping up efforts to fund defense initiatives.

Starlink is losing contracts due to Musk's ties to Trump. The Canadian government has rejected Starlink services, and Italy doubts signing a €1.5 billion deal. Eutelsat is already in talks with Italy about secure satellite communications.

Eutelsat shares rose sharply on EU pledges to increase defense spending, though they later fell 11%. The company says it needs additional financial and logistical support to quickly deploy terminals in Ukraine.