Donald Trump said Elon Musk restored Ukraine’s internet access amid concerns over a military slowdown caused by restricted Starlink service. The former US president spoke hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the connectivity provided by Musk’s satellite-based Starlink system had not yet returned to full strength.
Trump did not confirm reports that he pressured Musk to lift the restrictions but said simply: “Bottom line, he put it back.” He declined to comment further on a Wall Street Journal report claiming Trump called Musk to express frustration over the capped speeds.
The report said Trump was unhappy that Starlink’s speed remained limited to around 160km/h, slowing Ukraine’s offensive drone operations and interceptors. According to officials cited by the Journal, the system began working more normally on Thursday shortly after their call.
Zelensky addressed the issue at a press conference the same day. He said the speed “has not been restored to 400 [km/h; 250mph] yet” but added, “We are working on it.” He said he expected to hear from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio within 48 hours for more information.
Ukraine depends heavily on Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, for battlefield communications and early warning systems during Russian missile attacks. Interruptions to the service have raised concerns about the country’s ability to mount drone attacks against Russia.
The connectivity restrictions emerged amid tensions over Trump’s stance on Russia. Trump has urged Zelensky to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, arguing that these attacks have driven up global fuel prices. Facing midterm elections next month, Trump has waived some sanctions on Russia and brokered a deal to import Russian diesel into the US market. These moves have drawn criticism from Ukraine and European allies.
Ukraine first reported an interruption to US intelligence sharing on 14 October. Musk denied responsibility for the slowdown, saying last week that the US government ultimately controls access to Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink used by Ukraine. Musk said the system was designed for the Pentagon, suggesting Washington might be behind any restrictions.
The White House has repeatedly denied ordering any limits on Starlink access. The Trump administration also insists it did not instruct Musk’s company to restrict Ukraine’s connectivity.
The Wall Street Journal’s report and Trump’s comments have not been independently confirmed by other outlets. BBC News reached out to the White House and SpaceX for clarification but received no immediate response.
The dispute over Starlink’s availability comes as Ukraine braces for continued Russian attacks and seeks to maintain technological support from Western allies. The issue also exposes tensions within US policy and between private tech companies and government agencies involved in the conflict.
According to Joy Online.
