Musk calls on Zelensky to resign, says 'slaughter continues'

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has abruptly called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to resign, amid a controversy over speed restrictions on Starshield, the military satellite service.

Musk posted on X on Wednesday (local time) that "it's time for Zelensky to step down," Yonhap reported.

Musk also replied to a post suggesting that Zelensky, if he loses a presidential election held after the war ends, would likely face investigation and indictment like previous Ukrainian presidents — writing, "That's why the slaughter continues."

The remark was widely interpreted as an accusation that Zelensky is prolonging the war rather than seeking an end to it, out of fear of losing the next election.

Musk's comments came after Starshield — the military version of the Starlink satellite internet service — imposed unannounced speed restrictions in Ukraine.

The throttling significantly disrupted Ukraine's military operations, which rely heavily on drones.

When Ukraine demanded the restrictions be lifted, Musk said the final authority over the Starshield system rests with the US president — implying the speed limits were imposed at the direction of the US government.

Zelensky on a collision course with Trump?

Amid all this, Zelensky has been growing more openly critical of US President Donald Trump.

In a recent Financial Times interview, Zelensky lashed out at Trump, criticizing a diesel fuel deal Trump struck with Russian President Vladimir Putin and calling the US decision to cut intelligence support to Ukraine "dangerous."

Zelensky also said Trump has an instinctive affinity for dictators and the ultra-wealthy, and expressed displeasure at Trump's demand that he step down.

He also signaled his intent to defy Trump's pressure by announcing he would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries despite repeated US objections.

However, Zelensky's blunt criticism of Trump unsettled European leaders.

Relations between Washington and Kyiv have grown increasingly strained as Trump, mindful of voter anger over rising diesel prices ahead of midterm elections, agreed with Putin to import Russian diesel and proposed that Europe unfreeze Russian state assets.

The Financial Times assessed that the relationship has entered its most serious crisis since Trump summoned Zelensky to the White House in February last year — shortly after the start of his second term — and berated him over his military attire, telling him to show more gratitude to the United States.

In the immediate aftermath of that confrontation, Trump ordered a full halt to military aid to Ukraine, prompting major European leaders to mount an intensive lobbying campaign to prevent the United States from breaking ranks with the Western coalition supporting Kyiv.

Because US weapons and intelligence are central to Ukraine's ability to wage war, Europe has in effect no means to fill the void if the security partnership between Washington and Kyiv were to collapse.

yul@heraldcorp.com