US President Donald Trump has confirmed that tech billionaire Elon Musk restored Ukraine's access to Starlink, the satellite internet service central to Kyiv's military operations and air defences, following a period of disruptions that left Ukrainian forces scrambling.
Trump declined to elaborate on how the restoration came about. When asked about reports that he had personally called Musk and instructed him to lift the restrictions, Trump told reporters: "I don't want to comment on it, whether I called or whether somebody else called, doesn't make any difference, I guess. The bottom line, he put it back."
Ukrainian officials first reported sudden restrictions on Starlink services on 13–14 October. The disruptions were described as severe, with speed caps leaving Ukraine's offensive drones and interceptors unable to respond effectively to Russian attacks.
Though services have since come back online, connectivity has reportedly remained inconsistent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a news conference on Thursday that speeds had still not been fully restored. "The speed has not been restored to 400 [km/h] yet," he said, adding: "We are working on it."
Zelenskyy also said he was awaiting a response from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "I am waiting to hear from US Secretary of State [Marco] Rubio. He promised to get back to me with information within 48 hours or so," the Ukrainian president said.
Reports emerged on Thursday that Trump had called Musk and expressed frustration that Starlink speeds were still capped at around 160 km/h, according to officials. The system was said to be working more normally shortly after that conversation.
Questions have persisted over who ordered the original restrictions. Trump, Musk, and administration officials have each deflected responsibility.
Trump denied ordering the slowdown. "Well, I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon," he said. "And from what I understand, it's the same as it's always been."
Rubio, speaking on Wednesday, said the matter was governed by private contract. "The bottom line is that that is governed by a private commercial contract as to how their stuff can be used and what speeds they'll allow it to be used at," he said.
Musk, however, has rejected any personal responsibility, pointing to the US government as the controlling authority. "Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," Musk wrote in a social media post on 14 October, using the acronym for president of the United States. He added that Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink used by Ukraine for some operations, is "owned and controlled by the US government."
The White House has repeatedly stated it did not order access to be restricted.
The episode has raised broader concerns about the use of commercial satellite technology as a potential lever of political pressure. Critics have suggested the restrictions may have been intended to push Ukraine toward compliance with US demands regarding peace negotiations.
Trump has had a publicly strained relationship with Zelenskyy, repeatedly describing him as "difficult" compared to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has also suggested Ukraine itself bears some responsibility for the war, previously stating that Ukraine's ambitions to join NATO were a contributing cause of the conflict.
More recently, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Zelenskyy was to blame for the war's continuation. "He doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did," Trump wrote.
Ukraine has been at war with Russia since February 2022, when Putin launched a full-scale invasion. While European nations have backed Ukraine's defence, Trump has faced criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans for what they describe as easing pressure on Moscow.
His administration has also announced moves to purchase Russian diesel and ease restrictions on Russia's energy sector. Trump has additionally indicated openness to a trilateral meeting with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
