---
title: "Kubilius: Starlink Risks Losing Europe's Trust Over Contract Non-Compliance"
description: "European Commissioner Kubilius stated that Starlink could lose the trust of European countries and access to their markets if it fails to meet contractual obligations paid for by EU budgets. The statement followed the October 14 incident involving speed limits on Starshield terminals."
date: 2026-11-10T14:29:03.705Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kubilius-starlink-europe-trust-contracts
tags: [starlink, spacex, eu-defence, ukraine-war, kubilius, satellite-communications, european-union]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Kubilius: Starlink Risks Losing Europe's Trust Over Contract Non-Compliance

![Andrius Kubilius sitting at a table during a conference in a bright room](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/10/kubilius-starlink-doverie-evropy-kontrakty/kubilius-starlink-doverie-evropy-kontrakty-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Kubilius stated that Starlink could lose Europe's trust and market access if it fails to fulfill contracts
- The European Commissioner emphasized that contracts are paid for by European countries, not acts of goodwill
- On October 14, Starshield terminals lost connection at speeds above 160 km/h, affecting interceptor drones
- On October 24, military Starlink resumed operations at speeds exceeding 161 km/h

European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius stated in an interview with Radio Liberty, cited by RBC-Ukraine, that the Starlink satellite network could lose the trust of European states if it continues to fail to fulfill its contractual obligations. According to him, this is not about the company's "goodwill" toward Ukraine, but about specific contracts financed by the budgets of several European countries. "First of all, I hope that Starlink will continue to fulfill its contractual obligations. We are not just talking about Starlink's goodwill regarding Ukraine. We are talking about contractual obligations. The contracts are paid for by some European countries," Kubilius stressed.

### Warning of Consequences for SpaceX Business

The European Commissioner directly warned Elon Musk's company against the negative consequences of violating agreements. "I hope Starlink understands what non-fulfillment of a contract signed with European countries means. The company could lose trust, and this could have a negative impact on its ability to provide services to European countries and European citizens," Kubilius added. Thus, Brussels is essentially signaling that non-compliance with obligations could lead to restricted access for Starlink to the European telecommunications services market, affecting both military and civilian segments.

### Context: The October 14 Starshield Terminals Incident

Kubilius's statements came against the backdrop of a recent technical incident. On October 14, a serious issue arose with the operation of Starshield terminals—the military version of Starlink satellite communications: when exceeding speeds of around 160 km/h, the terminals lost connection. The restriction directly affected the operation of interceptor drones used by Ukrainian defenders to shoot down Russian Shahed drones. According to RBC-Ukraine sources in the Ministry of Defence, the restrictions also complicated the deployment of midstrikes. On the same day, Russia launched one of the most massive attacks on Ukrainian territory, which only heightened the importance of uninterrupted satellite communications for defense.

### Kyiv's Reaction and Service Restoration

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly urged Elon Musk to fix the error, which, according to him, could lead to casualties among Ukrainians. On the evening of October 14, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported that communication quality at speeds up to 160 km/h had improved, though SpaceX maintained the restriction at the 161 km/h mark. The agency emphasized that contacts with partners and SpaceX are ongoing to ensure stable service conditions and prevent sudden restrictions. On October 24, RBC-Ukraine sources in the Ministry of Defence reported that military Starlink resumed operations at speeds exceeding 161 km/h.

### Intelligence Data and Systemic Risks

In addition to issues of speed and terminal availability, Kubilius commented in the same interview on problems regarding the provision of American intelligence data to Ukraine. Although details of these restrictions are not disclosed in available materials, the very fact of the European Commissioner publicly discussing two related topics—satellite communications and intelligence sharing—indicates that Brussels views these elements as parts of a unified system supporting Ukraine's defense and assesses their reliability comprehensively.

### What This Means for European Policy

Kubilius's speech marks a shift in EU rhetoric: while satellite communications for Ukraine were previously perceived primarily as a humanitarian or military-technical issue, Brussels now emphasizes the contractual and legal nature of relations with SpaceX. This opens up space for pressure mechanisms—from revising contract terms to reallocating budget flows toward alternative solutions. For Europe, which continues to increase its own defense spending in 2026 and seeks ways to reduce dependence on American technological platforms, the Starlink incident becomes yet another argument in favor of developing its own satellite and telecommunications infrastructures.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Starlink может потерять доверие Европы из-за невыполнения контрактов, - Кубилюс](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/starlink-mozhe-vtratiti-doviru-evropi-cherez-1794316966.html) - Direct quotes of Kubilius from the Radio Liberty interview; Ministry of Defence data on the October 14 incident and communication restoration on October 24; Zelenskyy's statement. All facts are presented in a single source without contradictions.
- [Кубилюс о перебоях в работе Starlink: речь идет о контрактных обязательствах, компания рискует ...](https://censor.net/ru/news/4032952/kubilyus-starlink-mojet-poteryat-doverie-iz-za-nevypolneniya-kontraktov) - Подтверждено по источнику censor.net

## FAQ

### What exactly did Kubilius say about Starlink?

The European Commissioner stated that Starlink could lose the trust of European countries and that this would negatively affect the company's ability to provide services in the EU if it fails to fulfill contractual obligations paid for by European state budgets.

### What happened on October 14 with Starlink terminals?

Starshield terminals (the military version) stopped functioning properly when moving at speeds above approximately 160 km/h. The restriction affected the work of interceptor drones and midstrikes. On October 24, operation at speeds above 161 km/h was restored.

### Why does Kubilius emphasize that this is not about 'goodwill'?

He stresses that relations between Starlink and European countries are of a contractual nature: certain European states pay for these contracts, and failure to fulfill obligations is a breach of agreement rather than a matter of political will.