U.S. President Donald Trump contacted billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to ask him to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite internet network, according to U.S. officials. The reported conversation centered on frustration regarding speed caps that had been imposed on the system, which Kyiv relies heavily upon for military communications and drone operations.
According to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, the Starlink network appeared to be functioning more normally shortly after the discussion between Trump and Musk took place. However, the extent of the restoration remained a point of discussion among officials. Some Ukrainian representatives told reporters that while the system was operating at higher speeds than it had under the previous restrictions, it had not yet been fully restored to its prior functionality.
Prior to the reported change in network performance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Starlink speeds had not yet been restored for his country. Speaking earlier on the same day, Zelenskiy expressed hope for upcoming discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address the situation.
During his conversation with Musk, Trump reportedly expressed frustration that the satellite network’s speeds remained capped at approximately 100 mph, which translates to roughly 160 kph, as cited by officials familiar with the matter. The speed limitations had direct operational consequences for Ukraine, which utilizes the satellite service for essential battlefield communications as well as for offensive and defensive drone missions amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Restrictions on the service had previously hampered these military operations.
Ahead of the reported intervention, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the issue publicly, noting that decisions concerning Ukraine’s access to Starlink and the management of the network rested with its parent company, SpaceX, and its chief executive officer, rather than the White House.
