Saturday 17 October 2026
Night Edition
ZOTPAPER

News without the noise

ZOTPAPER
Geopolitics

Zelenskyy says Ukrainian military Starlink access not yet restored as Trump criticises oil refinery strikes

Ukrainian president asks EU for 70 billion euros in Brussels amid strains with Washington over intelligence sharing and satellite internet restrictions

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the Ukrainian military's access to the Starlink satellite internet service has not yet been fully restored, as media reports suggested the order to throttle the service came from within the White House. The Ukrainian president met European leaders in Brussels on Friday, where he asked the EU for another 70 billion euros next year to fund Ukraine's defence against Russia. The meeting took place hours after US President Donald Trump called Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries "a disgrace," deepening a rift between Kyiv and Washington.

Speaking after the Brussels summit, Zelenskyy confirmed that full Starlink capability had not been returned to his forces. Media reports have linked the restrictions to the White House, with unconfirmed suggestions that the Starshield military network was throttled to prevent its use on drones flying above 100mph. Neither the US nor SpaceX have officially confirmed these reports.

Trump's comments on Newsmax television were unusually direct. "All he's doing is making the world oil price higher," Trump said of Zelenskyy. "Well, I think that's a disgrace." The remarks followed accusations from Kyiv that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine had failed to take hold.

Energy analysts told the BBC that while the US-led conflict in Iran was having the biggest impact on diesel export volumes, the Ukraine war remained a significant factor. Separately, the Trump administration is suspected of withholding intelligence from Ukraine on incoming Russian ballistic missile strikes, though this has not been officially confirmed.

§

Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The Starlink restrictions directly impact Ukraine's ability to operate drones and maintain battlefield communications.
  • The public dispute between Zelenskyy and Trump signals a significant fracture in the US-Ukraine alliance.
  • Europe is being positioned as Ukraine's primary backer, raising questions about its capacity to replace US military support.

Background

Starlink satellite internet terminals have played a critical role in Ukraine's military communications and drone operations since the full-scale invasion. The US has been Ukraine's largest military donor, and Trump has long signalled a desire to reduce US involvement in the war. The Starshield network is a military-grade version of the commercial Starlink system.

Key Perspectives

[Ukraine (Zelenskyy)]: Needs immediate restoration of Starlink and sustained international support to defend against ongoing Russian offensives. [United States (Trump)]: Seeks to limit escalation, particularly actions that could disrupt global energy markets, and appears to be using aid as leverage. [European Union]: Being asked to shoulder the main financial burden for Ukraine's defence next year, a significant shift from previous burden-sharing arrangements. [Critics/Skeptics]: Restricting battlefield technology undermines Ukraine's security. The US approach risks forcing Kyiv into a disadvantageous settlement while emboldening Russia.

What to Watch

  • Whether Starlink and Starshield access is fully restored to Ukrainian forces.
  • The EU's formal response to Ukraine's 70 billion euro funding request.
  • Impact of US intelligence restrictions on Ukraine's ability to defend against missile strikes.
  • Fluctuations in global energy prices linked to the Ukraine and Middle East conflicts.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

How we workSubscribe