Ukraine still unable to intercept Russian drones due to Starlink restrictions, Zelenskyy says

Key Points:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine cannot currently use Starshield, an upgraded military version of Elon Musk's Starlink, to intercept Russian drones due to speed restrictions imposed on the system, which cuts off connectivity above 161 km/h in Ukraine.
• Zelenskyy indicated ongoing discussions with U.S. officials and SpaceX regarding these technical limitations, which do not affect Starlink's performance in the European Union, and expressed frustration over the impact on Ukraine's defense capabilities.
• Former President Donald Trump denied imposing any limits on Ukraine's access to Starlink or Starshield, attributing control over the system's use to the U.S. government and military, with Elon Musk confirming that usage decisions are made by U.S. authorities.
• Zelenskyy criticized recent U.S. moves to ease sanctions on Russian diesel, viewing them as potentially emboldening Russia, and expressed concern that further sanctions relief might continue despite the ongoing conflict.
• Despite claims by Trump of an "energy ceasefire" agreement between Ukraine and Russia, Zelenskyy reported that Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure persisted, leading Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries; Russia has not confirmed any ceasefire.