Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian military has not yet regained full access to Starlink satellite internet services. The comments came as reports emerged suggesting the decision to throttle the service originated from within the White House. Zelenskyy described the reduction in speeds as a “dangerous and unpleasant surprise” during a meeting with European leaders in Brussels on Friday.
Starshield Speed Limits and White House Orders
Zelenskyy confirmed that while signals from the White House indicated a return of capabilities, the service had not yet returned to previous speed limits. The military version of the network, known as Starshield, is critical for supporting Ukraine’s air defense systems against Russian jet-powered drones. Reuters reported that two US officials and a Western official briefed on the matter stated the Pentagon was informed that SpaceX’s Starshield service for Ukraine had to be slowed.
The order reportedly restricted the service to prevent use on drones flying faster than 100 mph. Zelenskyy noted that his defense ministry is in contact with partners who confirmed the White House signals. He clarified that while the speeds are coming back, they are not yet at the levels required for optimal performance. Starlink is produced by Elon Musk’s SpaceX but remains under the control of the US government.
EU Funding Gap and Frozen Assets Debate
During the summit, Zelenskyy requested an additional €70bn (£60bn) from the European Union for the next year to fund Ukraine’s defense against Russia. He told the 27 heads of state and government that the war will cost €155bn in 2027. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the funding gap but expected other international partners to cover part of the sum. The EU currently provides regular payments from a €90bn funding plan agreed upon last December.
The potential shortfall has revived discussions about using Russia’s frozen assets held within the EU. Belgium, which hosts the majority of these funds, remains opposed to using the principal amount, fearing it would bear the financial burden if the plan fails. Zelenskyy proposed a special EU-controlled custodian to manage the assets and reduce the risk of them being unfrozen or divided among skeptical member states. The European Commission has been reluctant to propose new variants due to expected opposition from Belgium and other countries.
Tensions between Kyiv and Washington have intensified following Trump’s criticism of Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries. Trump called the attacks a “disgrace” and claimed they were driving up global oil prices. Energy analysts noted that the US-Israeli conflict with Iran has had a larger impact on diesel exports, though the war in Ukraine remains significant. Trump’s administration is also suspected of withholding intelligence on incoming Russian ballistic missile strikes.
Von der Leyen stated that the EU supported Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire but observed that Russia did not respect it for even a minute. She promised a 22nd round of sanctions and affirmed that the EU would not lift any sanctions unless Russia stops the war. Zelenskyy reported hearing “only support” from European leaders, despite reports that some had asked him to moderate his criticism of Trump.
Source: The Guardian
