In brief
After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the United States of throttling the high‑speed satellite service crucial for Ukraine’s defence, former President Donald Trump denied any involvement and said the restriction might have come from senior U.S. officials. Elon Musk hinted that the order could have been issued by Washington, and U.S. senators have called for an investigation into the sudden slowdown. The incident follows a period of tense U.S.–Ukraine relations sparked by the decision to pause aid to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have pledged continued support for Ukraine and highlighted the strategic importance of Starlink on the battlefield. The dispute raises questions about the role of private sector technology in global conflicts and the geopolitical responsibility of the United States to its allies.
Trump reached the White House on the heels of a controversy that has drawn sharp criticism from Kyiv. He denied any role in a U.S. order that suddenly limited the speed of the satellite‑based Starlink network that Ukraine relies on for electronic warfare and command and control.
The former president said, “It wasn’t me and I don’t think it was Elon Musk,” after Ukrainian officials reported the service had been capped at 100mph (160km/h). That restriction sent several drone strikes into Ukrainian airspace without real‑time communications, hastening costly attacks on power infrastructure and leaving a half million civilians without electricity.
“If I don’t stand up to this… who else will?” asked Zelensky in a televised address to European leaders.
Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, hinted that the order might have come from Washington, and Reuters reported that it could have originated in the White House. Musk’s Starshield, a military‑grade variant of Starlink managed by the Pentagon, had been a key component of Ukraine’s defence, granting Kyiv a tactical edge by keeping drone swarms and missile guidance connected.
In response to the slowdown, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators sent a letter demanding an investigation. The letter noted that the restrictions “degraded Ukraine’s ability to conduct defensive operations against Russian drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure.” The incident follows the United States’ earlier decision to suspend aid to Kyiv so it would halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, a move that sparked objections from Zelensky and several EU leaders.
European leaders took note of the alleged tensions within the U.S. cabinet. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at a Brussels summit, reaffirmed that European allies would not abandon Ukraine, stressing that it was Europe’s role to “hold the line” in the face of ambiguous support from Washington.
The war, now in its fifth winter since the full‑scale invasion, has already cost Ukraine an estimated €155bn next year. Zelensky has asked the EU for additional aid, highlighting the need for satellite and early‑warning systems to protect the country’s critical infrastructure.
