Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov is considering a trip to the United States as early as next week, according to reports from Ukrainian and British media outlets.
Officials in Kyiv and Washington informed news site The Kyiv Independent that the potential visit could take place between August 24 and August 30.
British newspaper The Guardian also reported that the former minister is planning a trip to the United States next week, stating that the move appears intended to secure American support.
Discussions over Starlink network expansion
Specific details regarding who Fedorov plans to meet during his time in the United States have not been confirmed. However, Fedorov previously acknowledged that he has maintained ongoing discussions with American billionaire Elon Musk even after stepping down from his ministerial post.
Fedorov has been working to negotiate an extension of SpaceX's Starlink satellite communication network into Russian territory. Ukrainian military officials seek the coverage expansion to enable targeted strikes against launch sites used for Russian ballistic missiles.
Negotiations over satellite access remain unresolved. Two close associates of Fedorov informed magazine The Atlantic that Musk continues to express disagreement and debate the request to allow Starlink use over Russian territory.
Efforts to resolve the satellite issue reached top diplomatic levels during previous talks in Washington. In late July, sources reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked US President Donald Trump to speak directly with Musk regarding Starlink operation.
According to a source cited by The Atlantic, Zelenskyy also requested a personal meeting with Musk in order to present Ukraine's strategy for striking ballistic missile launchers. The source stated that Musk turned down the request for a meeting.
Fedorov did not respond to requests for comment regarding his prospective travel. Officials from the Office of the President of Ukraine told The Kyiv Independent that they had no information about any planned trip by the former minister.
Debate over wartime elections
News of Fedorov's prospective travel to the United States came one day after he published a video address containing direct criticism of Ukraine's state governance system. In the video, Fedorov also voiced support for conducting national elections despite the ongoing war with Russia.
In response to Fedorov's public comments, a source within the Ukrainian President's Office told news outlet LIGA.net that the presidential administration does not object to holding elections. The source noted that the primary obstacle to scheduling a vote is ensuring adequate safety and security conditions during wartime.
The issue of democratic processes in Ukraine has previously drawn international attention. In 2025, Donald Trump urged Ukraine to hold elections, during a period when relations between Trump and Zelenskyy were marked by tension.
Background on Ukrainian defense and tech leadership
Mykhailo Fedorov previously served as Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation before taking over as Minister of Defence. During his tenure in government, he focused on expanding Ukraine's military technology sector, expanding digital government services, and developing domestic drone production to counter Russian forces.
Starlink is a low Earth orbit satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, the private aerospace firm owned by Elon Musk. Since the onset of Russia's full scale invasion in 2022, Starlink terminals have served as a critical communications backbone for Ukrainian troops, command centers, and frontline drone operations.
Washington remains Ukraine's main supplier of military equipment, financial assistance, and intelligence sharing. Bilateral talks between Ukrainian leaders and American officials frequently focus on defense supplies, long range striking capabilities, and air defense systems.
