In brief
President Donald Trump announced that Elon Musk had restored Ukraine’s Starlink internet, contradicting earlier reports of speed restrictions that hampered Ukrainian drone operations. The claim came minutes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the connection was still not fully restored, with speeds below 400 km/h. Musk had denied any deliberate slowdown, alleging U.S. government influence over the military version of Starlink. The U.S. has faced criticism for its sanctions policy and for permitting Russian diesel imports amid the conflict. The debate highlights the strategic importance of satellite connectivity for Ukraine’s battlefield communications.
Trump claims Elon Musk restored Ukraine’s internet access
U.S. President Donald Trump said the internet provider Starlink had been restored after a long‑standing slowdown that affected Ukraine’s ability to use drones against Russia, coming hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the connectivity had yet to be fully restored.
Musk has previously denied that he was behind the slowdown, which had capped speeds at around 160 km/h, limiting the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone flights and interceptors. Trump refused to confirm any pressure on Musk but added, “Bottom line, he put it back.”
The Trump administration has maintained that it did not instruct Musk’s company to restrict access. The restrictions coincided with President Trump urging Zelensky to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, a move he said kept energy prices high. Amid upcoming mid‑term elections, Trump has also waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed to import Russian diesel for the U.S. market.
Ukraine relies on Starlink—owned by SpaceX—a key component of its battle communications and early warning systems during Russian missile strikes. Earlier on Thursday, Zelensky said the speed “has not been restored to 400 km/h yet,” adding that he was awaiting a response from U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Rubio. The White House and SpaceX have been asked for an explanation, but no confirmation of the Wall Street Journal’s report of a phone call between Trump and Musk has yet been provided.
The controversy over Starlink’s performance underscores the strategic significance of satellite internet for Ukraine’s war effort and highlights the impact of political decisions on battlefield technology.
