US restricts Ukraine’s Starlink access amid war tensions, funding disputes, and energy ceasefire

Consensus Summary

Ukraine’s military faced a critical disruption to its Starlink satellite internet service on Tuesday evening, with speeds artificially limited to below 100mph, crippling drone missions and air defense operations. The Guardian and ABC both confirm that the restriction was imposed by the US, either directly by the White House or at the request of the Trump administration, leading to failed combat missions and confusion among Ukrainian forces. Russia exploited the vulnerability by launching 39 ballistic missiles and 120 attack drones at Kyiv and Kharkiv, leaving at least 600,000 people without power. The outage came as US President Donald Trump had declared an ‘energy ceasefire’ between Russia and Ukraine, a move neither side confirmed participating in, further straining relations between Kyiv and Washington.

The Starlink restrictions are part of broader tensions between Ukraine and the US, with Zelenskyy accusing the Trump administration of withholding critical intelligence on incoming Russian missile strikes. The Guardian reports that Ukraine had previously relied on US intelligence warnings, but these were absent before Tuesday’s barrage, raising suspicions of deliberate withholding. Meanwhile, the EU remains a key financial backer, with Zelenskyy seeking an additional €70bn (£60bn) for 2027 to fund defense, citing a total war cost of €155bn that year. The EU’s existing €90bn funding plan for 2026-27, agreed last December, is under strain, and discussions about unfreezing €210bn of Russian assets held in the EU have reignited, though Belgium opposes this due to financial risks.

Key figures in the crisis include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has publicly urged Elon Musk to restore Starlink services, warning that human lives are at stake. The Guardian quotes Zelenskyy as saying the restrictions were a ‘very dangerous and unpleasant surprise,’ while ABC highlights his plea to Musk during an interview with Piers Morgan. US President Donald Trump has been openly critical of Zelenskyy, demanding Ukraine halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and accusing Kyiv of driving up global oil prices. The Guardian notes that Trump’s administration is suspected of throttling Starshield, the military version of Starlink, to prevent its use on high-speed drones, though neither the White House nor the Pentagon has confirmed this. European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron, have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, with Macron calling for Ukraine to receive ‘all the means necessary to protect itself.’

While both the Guardian and ABC agree on the core event of Starlink restrictions and their impact on Ukraine’s military operations, they differ in emphasis and detail. The Guardian provides extensive coverage of the political fallout, including Zelenskyy’s meetings with EU leaders and the EU’s funding disputes, while ABC focuses more on the technical aspects of Starlink and Musk’s role. The Guardian also reports that Russia’s strikes were deliberately large-scale, targeting energy infrastructure, whereas ABC does not delve into this specific characterization. Additionally, the Guardian mentions Trump’s criticism of Zelenskyy’s strikes on Russian oil refineries as a ‘disgrace,’ while ABC highlights the broader political tensions, including Trump’s energy deal with Russia, which drew criticism from US senators.

The immediate aftermath of the Starlink outage saw partial restoration by Thursday morning, with speeds reaching up to 160 kilometres per hour, though Ukrainian officials continue to push for full reinstatement. The Guardian reports that Zelenskyy is seeking new negotiations with the US, sending proposals to Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while also observing a short-term moratorium on striking Russian refineries. The US Treasury’s extension of sanctions waivers for Lukoil through April 2027 adds another layer of complexity, as it allows limited Russian oil operations outside Russia. Meanwhile, Russia’s drone attacks in the Kirovohrad region, lasting more than 10 hours and killing three, underscore the ongoing brutality of the war. The unresolved question remains whether the US will fully restore Starlink access and whether the EU will find a way to unlock frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s financial needs.