Trump said Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's access to Starlink's military-grade Starshield network after restrictions had slowed connectivity needed for drone operations against Russian targets.
Zelensky stated on Thursday that speeds had not fully recovered to required levels, remaining around 160 kilometers per hour instead of 400. The Ukrainian president said he was awaiting contact from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for updates.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump called Musk and asked him to lift the restrictions, citing frustration over the speed caps. The outlet reported the system worked more normally Thursday shortly after their conversation. The BBC has not independently confirmed that report. The White House and SpaceX did not respond to BBC requests for comment.
Musk earlier denied involvement in the slowdown but said the US government ultimately controls Starshield access, suggesting the Pentagon could be behind restrictions. The Trump administration has repeatedly denied ordering any restrictions.
The connectivity problem affects Ukraine's ability to coordinate drone strikes and air defenses. Ukraine uses both civilian Starlink and the more secure Starshield service, which operate via roughly 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. Modern drone warfare depends on high-speed internet connectivity.
Ukraine first reported the interruption to US intelligence sharing on October 14. The timing coincides with Trump's pressure on Zelensky to halt Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, which Trump has said raise energy prices. Trump's administration has since waived some Russia sanctions and agreed to import Russian diesel, moves Ukraine and European allies have criticized.
Zelensky said earlier Thursday he was still waiting for full speed restoration and expected an update from Rubio within 48 hours.