Trump says Musk restored Ukraine’s Starlink access amid Russia war

According to United States President Donald Trump has, tech mogul Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's access to Starlink, a satellite internet service that plays a key role in Kyiv's war effort and air defences.

Key points

• After Putin introduced a full-scale invasion of the Eastern European country, ukraine has been locked in a slow-grinding war with Russia since February 2022.
• On Thursday, Trump declined to discuss a report from The Wall Street Journal that he had called Musk and instructed him to end restrictions on Ukraine's connection.
• Trump has had a contentious relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, repeatedly calling him "difficult" in comparison to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio additionally stated this week that decisions regarding Starlink's speed and access belong to Musk.
• On October 13, Ukrainian authorities unveiled that sudden restrictions on Starlink services had left the country's military scrambling.

Notably, the news outlet documented that Starlink services returned to normal after the call.

"I don't want to comment on it, whether I called or whether somebody else called, doesn't create any difference, I guess. The bottom line, he put it back, " Trump remarked to journalists when asked concerning the report.

On October 13, Ukrainian authorities unveiled that sudden restrictions on Starlink services had left the country's military scrambling. Though the system came back online, connectivity has reportedly remained spotty.

Questions have persisted regarding where the decision to restrict access came from, with Musk and the Trump administration office-holders trading blame. Trump has denied ordering restrictions on Ukraine's access to Starlink.

"Well, I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon, " he remarked on Friday. "And from what I understand, it's the same as it's always been."

"The bottom line is that that is governed by a private commercial contract as to how ⁠their stuff can be used and what speeds they'll allow it to be used at, " Rubio remarked on Wednesday.

But Musk has denied any responsibility, stating that Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink, is "owned and controlled by the US government".

"Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS, " he remarked in a social media post on October 14, using the acronym for "president of the United States".

In practice, the Starlink speed caps and restrictions have additionally triggered concern that Trump, or the president's right-wing allies, might seek to leverage such technology to pressure Ukraine into complying with US demands.

While Europe has backed Ukraine's defence against the invasion, Trump has suggested Ukraine itself could be to blame for the conflict.

In 2025, for instance, Trump blamed Ukraine's ambitions of joining NATO. " I actually think that that was the thing that caused the start of the war, " he remarked at the time.

More lately, Trump posted on Truth Social that it was Zelenskyy's fault the war had not yet concluded. "He doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did, " Trump wrote.

As the war continues, Trump has been criticised by Democrats and some members of his own Republican Party for easing US pressure on Russia.

Lately, his administration issued a series of announcements to purchase Russian diesel and ease restrictions on Russia's energy sector.

Those decisions come as Trump is struggling with the political fallout of high fuel rates caused by his decision to join Israel in launching a war on Iran.

He has additionally suggested he would be open to a trilateral gathering with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. It would be a first for the three leaders.

For now, trump says Musk restored Ukraine's Starlink access amid Russia war remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.