Ukraine has accused the United States of potentially restricting the speed of Starlink satellite communications over the front line to pressure Kyiv during peace negotiations with Russia. This was reported by the Financial Times, citing Ukrainian officials. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the military has recorded "systematic speed restrictions" for the Pentagon-funded Starshield service, which significantly complicates the interception of Russian jet drones.
"Systematic restrictions": Zelenskyy's statement
The President of Ukraine emphasized that these are not random glitches but targeted restrictions. According to him, the connection speed over the front line and occupied territories has been reduced to 161 km/h (100 mph). "These are not accidental errors, but systematic speed limitations. For us, this primarily means significantly complicating the interception of Russian jet drones," Zelenskyy stated. Kyiv added that such restrictions "help Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes."
Kyiv's version: pressure during negotiations
Senior Ukrainian officials believe the communication speed was restricted intentionally to pressure Kyiv during peace talks. One official noted that Washington, in his assessment, seeks to strengthen Russia's position. These statements follow the visit of US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin; they plan to head to Ireland afterward for a meeting with Zelenskyy. The President's Office has already contacted Washington to clarify the circumstances of the failures.
US position and SpaceX silence
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the White House did not order the restriction of satellite internet services from SpaceX for the Ukrainian military, contradicting Zelenskyy's claims. According to the Financial Times, SpaceX, the White House, and the US Embassy in Ukraine have not yet commented on the situation. Previously, Ukrainian soldiers reported that the speed limits on devices began to partially disappear, although the service has not been fully restored.
Europe's reaction and the 2027 contract issue
The European Commission stated that reports of the failures are "a cause for deep concern and, if confirmed, would be unacceptable," and emphasized that SpaceX must urgently restore Starshield services for Ukraine. EU Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, previously warned that Starlink could lose Europe's trust due to the failure to fulfill contractual obligations funded by European nations. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, ahead of the EU leaders' summit in Dublin, stated that Europe is in a "trap," having agreed to discuss security issues in exchange for a seat at the negotiating table. Separately, it is known that the agreement with the US government regarding Ukrainian military access to the Starshield network expires in 2027, making negotiations for its extension urgent.
