Trump says Musk restored Starlink access for Ukraine; Zelensky reports continued speed problems

President Donald Trump said that Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite internet service after earlier restrictions disrupted the operations of Ukrainian armed forces. Trump added that the most important thing is that the service has been returned.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has a different assessment: he said the connection to the military Starshield network provided via Starlink is still not fully back to normal and that speed problems remain, affecting some military capabilities.

Operational impact and denials

The earlier slowdown in service hindered Kyiv’s ability to use drones for strikes on Russian targets and for defensive operations, Ukrainian officials said. Both the White House and Musk have denied that an order to limit access was issued; Musk himself rejected responsibility for the slowdown.

Trump declined to say whether he personally called Musk to request removal of the restrictions, but emphasized that restoring the link was what mattered. His administration previously denied giving instructions to curtail the service.

Observers note the restrictions surfaced at a moment when Trump was pressing Zelensky to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, citing effects on fuel prices. Ahead of the upcoming Congressional elections next month, Trump eased some sanctions on Russia and arranged imports of Russian diesel for the U.S. market—moves that drew sharp criticism from Ukraine and European allies.

The situation leaves Kyiv reliant on private satellite infrastructure for parts of its communications and highlights the diplomatic and operational tensions that arise when commercial technology intersects with battlefield needs and geopolitical pressure.

Photo: DPA)