Donald Trump says Elon Musk has restored Starlink for Ukraine
US President Donald Trump stated that Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's Starlink internet access after speed limits impacted military operations.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Donald Trump stated that Elon Musk has restored Starlink internet access to Ukraine.
- Volodymyr Zelensky noted speeds were not fully restored before the news reports.
- Elon Musk previously denied being behind the speed throttling affecting drones.
- Trump has pressured Ukraine to halt refinery attacks amid reported phone negotiations.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's satellite internet connection through Starlink, following restrictions that previously crippled Kyiv's armed forces during military operations.
Trump made these remarks after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that connectivity to the military-grade Starshield network, operated via Musk's Starlink system, had not yet been fully restored. Musk had previously denied involvement in the speed slowdowns, which hindered Ukraine's ability to deploy drones against Russian targets and defend its own territory.
According to reports by the Wall Street Journal, Trump directly contacted Musk to request the removal of speed caps on Ukraine's network. Sources indicated that speeds had been limited to approximately 160 kilometers per hour, rendering Ukrainian offensive drones and interceptors powerless against incoming attacks.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
While Trump declined to comment directly on reports of his phone call with the SpaceX founder, he summarized the outcome by stating, "Bottom line, he put it back." Previously, the Trump administration repeatedly denied giving instructions to restrict access to Musk's satellite systems.
"Bottom line, he put it back."
Donald Trump
The connectivity restrictions coincided with political pressure from Trump on Zelensky to halt Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, which the US president argued were driving up energy prices. Facing midterm elections next month, Trump has also waived specific sanctions against Russia and brokered a diesel import deal for the US market, drawing criticism from Ukraine and European allies.
The heavy reliance on Starlink and Starshield in the Russia-Ukraine conflict highlights a modern geopolitical dilemma where private aerospace infrastructure directly dictates battlefield outcomes. The complex jurisdictional overlap between US authorities, private providers, and Ukrainian military leadership creates ongoing vulnerability in wartime communications.
Source: BBC World
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