Speaking at the Hudson Institute in Washington, Zelensky said the speed of Starlink and its military version Starshield had not been restored, according to Current Time.
"The speed has not been restored. And the delivery of interceptors to protect against Russian ballistic missiles is still delayed. This is a real problem, because the Russians attack us almost every day," the Ukrainian president said.
Zelensky's adviser Dmytro Lytvyn wrote on X that "we are seeing the same limit, so far nothing has changed," Ekho reported. A senior European official, commenting to the Associated Press on Thursday, also said the Starlink speed limit of around 160 km/h remains in effect and that Ukraine has received no official explanation of who made the decision or why.
In mid-October, Ukrainian military officials said they had begun recording restrictions on Starshield, the military analogue of Starlink, Current Time reported. Reuters, citing sources, said Starlink for the Ukrainian army had been restricted on orders from the White House. The restrictions led to disruptions in communications between Ukrainian units and their headquarters and to slower internet speeds, complicating military operations.
Donald Trump said that neither he nor Elon Musk had restricted satellite communications for Ukraine. Musk wrote on X that restrictions on Starshield are determined by the US military or the president, since the system belongs to the US government. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported that Trump called Musk on Wednesday and asked him to lift the restrictions, after which Starlink in Ukraine began working better. Trump himself, answering a journalist's question on Thursday evening, said he did not want to comment on it. According to him, "I called or someone else did – it makes no difference, the main thing is that he [Musk] restored everything."
Zelensky, according to Novaya Gazeta Europe, noted that the situation had become more difficult partly because of the policy on Starlink and Starshield and the speed restrictions. "But our front line continues to hold, and I am proud of how strong our people are," he said.
Accounts diverge: Trump asserts that Musk "restored everything," while Trump declined to comment on the details. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reports that after Trump's call Starlink in Ukraine began working better. However, Zelensky, his adviser Lytvyn and a senior European official, commenting to the Associated Press, say the speed restrictions remain in place.