WASHINGTON, US – US President Donald Trump has said Elon Musk restored Ukraine’s access to Starlink satellite internet after restrictions disrupted communications used by Kyiv’s military, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that full connectivity had yet to return.
Trump made the remarks on Thursday, October 22, following a Wall Street Journal report that he had called Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX, to ask him to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of the satellite network.
Asked whether he had spoken to Musk, Trump declined to confirm the conversation but insisted the service had been restored.
“Bottom line, he put it back,” Trump said.
Reuters separately reported that the system was operating more normally after the reported conversation, although some Ukrainian officials said its performance remained below full capacity.
Zelensky Says Military Connectivity Is Still Limited
Zelensky had earlier said Ukraine’s military connectivity had not been fully restored, adding that Kyiv was still working to resolve the problem.
The Ukrainian president also said he was awaiting information from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had promised to provide an update within approximately 48 hours.
The discrepancy between Trump’s announcement and Zelensky’s assessment leaves questions about whether the restrictions have been completely lifted or whether the service has only partially recovered.
The Wall Street Journal, citing US and Ukrainian officials, reported that Starlink was functioning at higher speeds following the alleged Trump-Musk conversation, but some Ukrainian officials said full functionality had not returned.
How the Restrictions Affected Ukraine’s Military
Ukraine relies on SpaceX’s satellite communications network for battlefield communications and drone operations, including missions to intercept Russian aerial attacks.
The reported restrictions disrupted some Ukrainian offensive and defensive drone missions, raising concerns about the country’s reliance on a privately operated satellite system for critical military capabilities.
The dispute has also highlighted the distinction between Starlink, SpaceX’s commercial satellite internet service, and Starshield, a military-grade system controlled by the US government.
Musk has said the US government ultimately controls access to Starshield. Rubio also said decisions about Ukraine’s access to Starlink rested with SpaceX and Musk rather than the White House.
Trump Denies Ordering the Restrictions
The Trump administration has denied directing the restrictions that affected Ukraine’s satellite connectivity.
The reported phone call has drawn attention because it came amid strained relations between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries and the Trump administration’s approach to Moscow.
Trump has criticised Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, arguing that they contribute to higher fuel prices. His administration’s decisions concerning Russia-related sanctions and Russian diesel imports have also drawn criticism from Ukraine and some European allies.
However, the reported call between Trump and Musk has not been independently confirmed by the Wall Street Journal’s sources in public statements from either man. Trump did not confirm whether he personally contacted Musk, and the White House has maintained that it did not order the initial restrictions.
