The U.S. Secretary of State Rubio dismissed remarks by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy claiming that Washington had ordered restrictions on satellite services used by Ukraine for drone strikes inside Russia. The dispute comes amid growing public friction between Ukraine’s leadership and U.S. President Trump over sanctions and attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian officials stated that SpaceX’s Starlink terminals had abruptly stopped processing drones traveling faster than 160 kilometers per hour. On Saturday, Zelenskyy told reporters that tests conducted by EU nations on Starlink devices indicated the limitations imposed on Ukraine were part of a “deliberate action.”
Later that day, Rubio offered a different account: “I don’t know what Zelenskyy said. I’m not sure he knows what he’s talking about, but this wasn’t intentional.” Speaking at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, he added, “We have nothing to do with it. No one in the United States ordered a reduction in Starlink speed. It happened, but I understand it has since been restored and is now back to its previous state.”
Rubio confirmed that Ukraine currently cannot access Starlink’s military counterpart, Starshield, though Kyiv had previously applied for access.
SpaceX CEO Musk also denied imposing restrictions on Starlink usage in Ukraine, clarifying that the service is limited to civilian and defensive purposes and cannot be used for offensive operations.
However, reports from The Daily Telegraph on Friday claimed Musk personally urged Trump to restrict Starlink speeds in Ukraine, while Reuters reported that the White House had directed the Pentagon to slow down Starshield. Trump denied any involvement and stated he does not view Musk as being in charge.
Zelenskyy reiterated on Saturday that the Starlink restrictions remained in effect. A Ukrainian official attributed the speed cap to “technical issues” on SpaceX’s end.
In parallel, Trump earlier this month lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports, aiming to suppress energy prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. On Friday, he went further, citing national security concerns to suspend new sanctions on Russian oil and gas trade. He also sought to pressure Ukraine into halting attacks on Russian refineries, arguing such strikes were driving up energy costs.
Zelenskyy expressed feeling betrayed by Trump, while the latter responded by calling the Ukrainian leader “not someone we get along with” and suggesting he should be replaced.
What is most striking is not who issued the speed limit—but the contradictory accounts across actors, none of whom are willing to definitively assign responsibility.
Rubio’s statement carried two layers: first, disavowal—“No one in the U.S. ordered this”—and second, deflection—“I’m not sure Zelenskyy knows what he’s saying.” Yet Musk maintains that speed limitations apply only to offensive uses; media reports allege Musk directly approached Trump, and that the White House instructed the Pentagon to slow Starshield; Trump denies both. In the resulting web of denials, accountability remains unclaimed—like a hot potato passed around.
Even more significant is context. Trump recently removed sanctions on Russian diesel, paused new sanctions on oil and gas, and pressured Ukraine to stop targeting refineries—all under the rationale of controlling energy prices and securing political advantage ahead of midterms. At this precise moment, Starlink’s remote drone capability “just happened” to degrade. Zelenskyy’s assertion of a “deliberate action” thus carries weight beyond mere speculation.
Technical flaws can be corrected. Trust gaps cannot. When an ally publicly expresses betrayal and another demands replacement, the rupture extends far beyond a single technical limitation.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879381094772864/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.