In brief
In the wake of Ukraine’s recent loss of high‑speed connections to the Starlink‑based Starshield network, President Trump has denied any involvement in the restriction, stating it was neither his decision nor that of SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The slowdown, which cut drone operating speeds to 100mph, forced a surge of Ukrainian strikes on Russian gas infrastructure that drew criticism from the U.S. administration. Reuters reports the order may have come from within the White House, while Senators have called for a formal investigation. The episode underscores the fragile trust between Washington and Kyiv over the continued use of commercial satellite technology in a warzone.
After a sudden slowdown of the satellite‑based Starlink network used by Ukraine’s Army, President Donald Trump denied any role in restricting the service, claiming the decision was neither his nor Elon Musk’s. The slowdown, effective on Tuesday night, capped drone speeds at 100 mph (160 km/h), breaking the link between moving weapons and the satellite grid. Ukraine said it had suffered multiple deadly strikes on energy infrastructure while its forces could not connect to Fast‑Link, a service funded by SpaceX.
US & Ukrainian tension eases. Moscow has not confirmed a ceasefire that Kyiv demanded after Russia continued shelling oil refineries. AUU mistakenly thought the order came from a higher level in Washington, prompting Senators to demand an inquiry.
Musk later said the Starshield network is operated for the U.S. Pentagon, suggesting a possible military role behind the restriction. Reuters quoted U.S. officials and a Western ambassador who indicate the White House may have instructed the slowdown. In the same week, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged EU support to Ukraine, citing the reliability of satellite and early‑warning systems.
With Ukraine facing a fourth winter of conflict, $174 bn of next‑year war spending has been budgeted, 70 bn earmarked for defense amid rising calls from allies for comprehensive aid.
