The EU is discussing whether to cover the subscription cost of the Starlink terminals Elon Musk donated to Ukraine as part of options to safeguard internet communications in the war-stricken country.

Josep Borrell, EU chief diplomat, has tasked officials with drawing up plans to bolster internet coverage in Ukraine after Musk threatened to stop paying for the running of the Starlink terminals he donated to Kyiv, three officials with knowledge of the decision told the FT. The US-based billionaire has said it was costing his company SpaceX up to $20mn a month to run the devices.

Musk’s mobile internet systems have become crucial to the Ukrainian army’s communications on the battlefield where internet infrastructure has been damaged. There are more than 20,000 Starlink terminals in Ukraine, many of them used by the military. While some of them were donated by SpaceX, many are paid for by the US government, western allies or through crowdfunding.