The US president declined to comment on the process that led to Starlink lifting speed limits and access restrictions to Ukraine.
Published October 23, 2026
US President Donald Trump said technology mogul Elon Musk had restored Ukraine’s access to Starlink, a satellite internet service that plays a key role in Kiev’s war effort and air defense.
On Thursday, Trump declined to address a Wall Street Journal report that said he called Musk and told him to lift restrictions on connections with Ukraine.
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The news outlet reported that Starlink service returned to normal after the call.
Asked about the report, President Trump told reporters: “I don’t think it matters whether I called or someone else called, but I don’t want to comment on that. The bottom line is, he’s undone.”
On October 13, Ukrainian authorities announced that sudden restrictions on Starlink’s services had caused military turmoil in the country.
The system is back online, but connectivity remains unstable.
Questions remain about where the decision to restrict access came from, with Musk and Trump administration officials exchanging accusations.
President Trump denied ordering restrictions on Ukraine’s access to Starlink.
“Well, I don’t know if it was anyone, but it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” he said Friday. “And from what I understand, it’s the same as always.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said this week that decisions regarding Starlink speed and access rest with Musk.
“The bottom line is that private commercial contracts dictate how their stuff can be used and at what speeds,” Rubio said Wednesday.
But Musk denied any responsibility, saying StarShield, the military version of Starlink, is “owned and controlled by the U.S. government.”
“Speed and usage limits are determined by the U.S. military and ultimately by the president,” he said in a social media post on Oct. 14, using the acronym for “President of the United States.”
Starlink’s speed limits and restrictions have also raised concerns that President Trump or his right-wing allies may seek to use such technology to pressure Ukraine to comply with U.S. demands.
President Trump’s relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been controversial, with him repeatedly calling him “difficult” and comparing him to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine has been embroiled in a slow war with Russia since February 2022, since President Putin launched a full-scale invasion of the Eastern European country.
Although Europe supports Ukraine’s defense against invasion, President Trump suggested that Ukraine itself may be to blame for the conflict.
In 2025, for example, President Trump criticized Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO. “In fact, I think that’s what started the war,” he said at the time.
Just recently, President Trump posted on Truth Social that it is Zelensky’s fault that the war is not over yet. “He doesn’t want this war to end and probably never will,” President Trump wrote.
As the war continues, President Trump has been criticized by Democrats and some Republicans for relaxing U.S. pressure on Russia.
Recently, his administration has made a series of announcements to buy Russian diesel and ease restrictions on Russia’s energy sector.
These decisions come as the country struggles with the political fallout from rising fuel prices caused by President Trump’s decision to join Israel in starting a war against Iran.
He also indicated that he would be open to a tripartite meeting with President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which would be the first time for the three leaders.
