Ukraine fears US withdrawal as Starlink access restricted amid Trump spat

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed feelings of "betrayal" regarding recent actions by the Trump administration, specifically citing a U.S. "diesel deal" with Russia and a proposed "energy ceasefire." Zelenskyy stated it is "painful" when President Trump appears to side against Ukraine, and he questioned the advice guiding these decisions. Concurrently, Ukraine is experiencing significant disruptions to its Starlink satellite internet access and fears a broader withdrawal of U.S. support, including intelligence sharing.

Ukrainian military personnel have reported that Starlink access has been unexpectedly restricted, impacting several combat missions. These restrictions include new speed limits for terminals operating in motion, initially set at 160 km/h for the military-grade Starshield service, which were later reportedly tightened to 60-70 km/h, severely hindering drone operations. Ukrainian officials and advisers have suggested that these measures by SpaceX were likely implemented at the request of the Trump administration, a claim Elon Musk has also echoed, stating the decision came from the U.S. government regarding the Starshield system.

These developments coincide with warnings from the Trump administration that it could cease intelligence sharing if Ukraine continues long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. Zelenskyy also noted a lack of early warnings from partners before recent ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, further fueling concerns about diminishing U.S. intelligence support. The tensions are reportedly linked to the Trump administration's efforts to halt Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, a move that has left Kyiv feeling vulnerable.