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Trump denies limiting Ukraine access to Starlink network
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- US President Donald Trump denied involvement in restricting Ukraine's access to Starshield, the military-grade internet network linked to Starlink, which affected Kyiv's drone operations against Russian attacks.
- Elon Musk suggested the US government, possibly the Pentagon, was responsible for the speed restrictions on Starshield, a claim Reuters supported with reports that the order originated from the White House.
- Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have risen due to a controversial US-Russia diesel deal and Ukraine's resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries, despite a proposed ceasefire that Moscow did not confirm.
- Starlink and Starshield have been critical in supporting Ukraine's defense, with Musk cutting off Russia's access early in the conflict, but recent network limitations have disrupted Ukrainian military communications during Russian attacks.
- European leaders, including French President Macron, emphasized the importance of steadfast support for Ukraine amid concerns over inconsistent US backing, while US senators have called for an investigation into the network disruptions.
