US President Donald Trump has publicly stated that he had nothing to do with the introduction of restrictions on the operation of the Starlink (Starshield) military package for Ukraine. The American leader made this statement during a conversation with journalists when asked directly who exactly made the decision to limit satellite communications for Ukrainian soldiers — himself or SpaceX owner Elon Musk. According to Trump, he does not consider this to be his decision and does not believe Musk made it either, adding that to his knowledge, 'everything has remained exactly the same as before.'
Denial from the White House
The White House chief's response came in the format of an informal press gaggle where he was asked a series of sharp questions, including about his stance toward the leadership of Ukraine and Russia. When asked about the authorship of the Starlink restrictions, Trump answered evasively: 'Well, I don't know if it was anybody's decision, because it wasn't me. And I don't think it was Elon. And as far as I understand, everything is the same as it was.' Thus, the American leader effectively shifted the responsibility for the potential interference with satellite communications onto third parties without naming them.
What Happened with Starshield Terminals
Trump's statement came against the backdrop of recent incidents encountered by the Ukrainian military. According to available reports, Starshield terminals — the military package of Starlink — began losing connection when drones flew at high speeds. It was later revealed that the speed restriction was set at 160 km/h. As a result, Ukrainian interceptor drones were unable to catch up with enemy jet drones and shoot them down, creating a direct threat to defense.
Kyiv's Reaction and Musk's Position
Against this background, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to Elon Musk urging him to lift the restrictions, emphasizing that the lives of peaceful Ukrainians depend on their operation. In turn, Musk stated that Starshield systems are under the control of the US military and the US government, and they, according to him, are the ones who can impose such restrictions. Thus, the question of who exactly initiated the limits remains open: Kyiv points to the fact of restrictions, Musk redirects authority to US military structures, and Trump distances himself from authorship by both himself and Musk.
Statements Amid Conflict Settlement Negotiations
During the same press interaction, Trump touched upon the subject of the outcome of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, citing his own casualty statistics: according to him, an average of 25,000 service members die every month, and last month the figure was 32,000. The White House chief stated that he is conducting negotiations with both leaders and believes the war will end, adding that he maintains good relations with Zelenskyy. The statement regarding Starlink restrictions fits into this context of public remarks, where the topic of satellite communications for Ukraine has become a point of discussion.
