Sen. Elizabeth Warren is urging Congress to launch an investigation following Elon Musk’s denial of Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink internet services last year. Bloomberg reported that Musk, along with other tech executives, is scheduled to meet with lawmakers in Washington.
Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, stated that it is important to investigate the situation and ensure that foreign policy is conducted by the government rather than by one billionaire.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall also raised concerns about Musk’s refusal, suggesting that future contracts with the military need to be more explicit, as there is an expectation that goods and services could be used for combat.
Musk explained in a Twitter post that he received an emergency request to activate Starlink all the way to Sevastopol, Ukraine. However, he deemed the request as an attempt to launch an attack on Russian warships. Musk stated that agreeing to the request would make SpaceX complicit in an act of war and conflict escalation.
In other news, Ukraine reported a successful strike against a Russian drone base operating in the occupied Donetsk region. The details of casualties and damaged drones have not been released yet. Additionally, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vetoed a bill that would have allowed lawmakers to keep their assets secret for one more year, prioritizing transparency in efforts to join the European Union.
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, arrived in Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin. The discussions, focused on trade, cultural exchanges, and sensitive spheres, took place at an undisclosed time and location. Russia expressed its readiness to discuss U.N. Security Council sanctions against North Korea and disregarded White House warnings against arms trade between North Korea and Russia.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi as a special envoy to Beijing to aid in peace efforts. Zuppi’s visit to China aims to promote humanitarian initiatives and inclusive involvement in the peace process.
Lastly, Russia’s United Russia party, known for its support of Putin, won legislative supermajorities in illegally annexed regions and Crimea. The election was dismissed by Ukraine and most Western countries as a sham and violation of international law. The EU stated that there will be consequences for those involved in organizing the elections.