US President Trump requests Elon Musk to lift Starlink speed restrictions in Ukraine

Following reports that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk implemented speed restrictions on the Starshield satellite network affecting Ukrainian drone operations, US President Donald Trump intervened to request the restoration of services. The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported earlier in the week that Musk had capped connection speeds, hindering Ukraine's battlefield communications and drone missions. While both Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially denied directing any changes to the satellite service, pressure mounted as the limitations impacted military effectiveness.

By Thursday, October 22, 2026, reports confirmed that Trump spoke directly with Musk, urging him to lift the caps. Following this conversation, officials stated that the system began functioning more normally, although some Ukrainian representatives noted that full functionality had not been completely restored. While speeds improved, they remained below previous benchmarks. President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope for further discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to resolve the issue permanently, as the situation remains under scrutiny by both governments.