Donald Trump says Elon Musk restored Ukraine's Starlink access

Trump says Starlink access restored in Ukraine

Donald Trump told a press briefing that, after a conversation with SpaceX founder Elon Musk, the satellite internet service used by Ukraine’s armed forces is back online. "Bottom line, he put it back," the former president said, declining to confirm the details of any call but emphasizing that the service had been reinstated.

Zelensky says speeds still below normal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed reporters a few hours later, noting that while the link appears operational, the bandwidth has not recovered to the pre‑restriction level of 400 km/h. "The speed has not been restored to 400 yet," he said, adding that current speeds are around 160 km/h and that Kyiv is awaiting further clarification from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

How Starlink and Starshield support the war effort

Starlink, the commercial satellite broadband constellation run by SpaceX, underpins much of Ukraine’s battlefield communications, enabling real‑time coordination, early‑warning alerts and remote operation of drones. The more secure, military‑grade off‑shoot known as Starshield runs on the same orbital infrastructure but is designated for Pentagon‑controlled missions. Disruptions to either service can hamper Kyiv’s ability to launch or intercept drones, a concern repeatedly raised by Ukrainian officials.

Trump‑Musk contact reported by the Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump phoned Musk to request the removal of speed caps that had limited the network to roughly 160 km/h, a throttling that analysts say reduced the effectiveness of Ukrainian offensive drones. Musk has previously said that ultimate control of Starshield lies with the U.S. government, not SpaceX alone, fueling speculation about whether Washington ordered the restrictions. The White House has repeatedly denied any such directive.

Broader context of U.S.‑Ukraine tech ties

The satellite‑communication dispute emerges amid heightened U.S. pressure on Kyiv over recent strikes on Russian oil facilities. While Trump has signalled a softer stance on Russian sanctions, the administration continues to supply intelligence and equipment to Ukraine. Ensuring uninterrupted Starlink service remains a litmus test for the resilience of that support.

What comes next?

Zelensky’s call for clarification from Secretary Rubio suggests a diplomatic channel is still open to resolve the speed issue. Meanwhile, Trump’s public assertion places the responsibility for any lingering shortfall squarely on Musk and, by extension, on U.S. policy decisions. Observers will be watching whether SpaceX adjusts service parameters in the coming days and how Washington frames its role in the satellite‑internet supply chain.