In brief
US President Donald Trump denied any role in a US‑government order that imposed a speed‑limit on Starlink’s Starshield service, which cut Ukrainian drone communication during recent Russian missile attacks. The restriction forced weapons traveling faster than 100mph to lose connectivity, hampering Kyiv’s defensive efforts and prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for a swift restoration. Senators across party lines have demanded an investigation into the network disruption, while EU leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine’s war‑fighting capabilities.
US President Donald Trump has denied any involvement in a US‑government order that cut Ukraine's use of the Starlink satellite‑internet service, after the company ran a speed‑limit restriction that hampered Kyiv's drone‑defence capabilities.
Trump said he had no involvement and demanded that any claim that Elon Musk’s satellite company was behind the order was baseless.
Starlink—now used by Ukraine for military communications—was forced to throttle its services to a 100‑mph limit, causing weapons moving faster than that to lose connectivity during a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks.
The restriction left some 600,000 Ukrainians without power as the network shut, while energy facilities used by the Ukrainian military were damaged in those attacks.
In a bid for clarity, a bipartisan group of US senators filed a letter demanding an investigation into the disruption, citing that the limitations weakened Ukraine’s ability to conduct defensive operations against Russian air attacks.
Meanwhile, president of the United States spoke to reporters after leaving the White House, insisting he had a good relationship with President Zelensky and that he could not confirm the Starshield order had ever been withdrawn.
Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, suggested that the order may have come from the Pentagon, noting that Starshield is managed by the US government.
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, reaffirmed that EU states would not abandon Ukraine, citing the persistent threat to European security and the need for continued aid and satellite support.
The war has cost Ukraine an estimated €155bn next year, with at least €70bn earmarked for defence and weapons, according to Zelensky’s statements to the European Council.
As diplomatic, military and technological efforts continue, the Ukrainian government stresses the importance of restoring full Starlink functionality to safeguard its frontline.
