Wes Streeting, the UK defence secretary, has called on the United States to maintain its support for Ukraine during a visit to Washington, seeking to ease diplomatic friction following a recent dispute over satellite internet services. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Streeting argued that backing Kyiv aligns with Washington’s long-term economic interests and presents a significant business opportunity.
The British official addressed the tensions directly, acknowledging the “challenges of recent days” in response to questions about the sudden US decision to restrict Starlink usage for Ukrainian military operations. He noted that American assistance has been vital to the Ukrainian war effort and that its absence would be deeply felt.
Streeting emphasized that the incident highlighted an “enormous opportunity” for the US to deepen its defence-industrial relationship with Ukraine. He stated that the people of Ukraine are fighting for a principle central to American political thought: the right of free people to determine their own destiny.
Starlink Disruption and Military Impact
The diplomatic push comes after a dramatic shift in US policy regarding Starlink, which Ukrainian forces rely on for critical communications. The change occurred without warning around 1am, when soldiers reported that terminals on drones ceased functioning at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. This technical limitation rendered communications inoperable for fast-moving aerial assets.
The disruption forced an immediate halt to mid-strike drone attacks on targets in Russian-occupied territories. Ukrainian officials expressed concern that the loss of reliable satellite connectivity would hamper their ability to intercept new Russian jet-powered attack craft currently bombing cities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described feeling personally betrayed by Donald Trump after the US government appeared to throttle the service. Concurrently, reports emerged that the US threatened to cut off intelligence sharing used to detect incoming missiles unless Ukraine ceased attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Broader Security and Economic Arguments
Streeting framed support for Ukraine as a matter of national self-interest for both nations. He warned that if aggression is rewarded and borders can be redrawn by force, the consequences will not remain confined to Ukraine or Europe. He argued that allowing sovereignty to become negotiable poses a direct threat to global stability.
The defence secretary’s visit to the US capital is scheduled to include a meeting with his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth. The two are expected to discuss a range of security issues, including the safety of US military bases in the UK following an Iranian threat that led to the withdrawal of B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford. They may also explore cooperation to assist Saudi Arabia, which has faced attacks from Yemen’s Houthis.
Despite these broader topics, Ukraine remains the most urgent issue. Streeting stressed that there has rarely been a more important time for Britain and America to unite on this front. His remarks come as Trump has vacillated on support for Kyiv since returning to the White House, with mixed backing among US Republicans.
Trump has reportedly been attempting to pressure Ukraine to stop bombing Russian oil refineries in an effort to reduce global oil prices ahead of the US midterm elections. In a move that further complicated relations, Trump agreed to purchase diesel from Russia earlier this month.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham met with Zelenskyy in London on Wednesday to reaffirm British support. Streeting’s address in Washington aims to solidify the transatlantic alliance and ensure that the Starlink dispute does not derail the broader strategic partnership needed to counter Russian aggression.
Source: The Guardian
