Elon Musk suggests US government was behind Starlink restrictions in Ukraine – Europe live
Musk points to US control
Elon Musk said the US government may have been responsible for restricting the speed of satellite technology used by Ukraine’s armed forces. Ukraine has said the limits affect its ability to operate important defensive weapons.
Musk contrasted Starshield with Starlink in posts on X. He said the US government controls Starshield, while SpaceX owns and operates Starlink, whose use is limited to civilian or defensive purposes and excludes offensive military action.
Dispute over intelligence sharing
Musk also responded to Zelenskyy’s remarks about his relationship with Donald Trump, writing that it was “time to go,” according to the report. The source does not specify further details about the exchange.
Trump denied on Tuesday that his administration had stopped sharing intelligence. In an interview broadcast Wednesday by NPR, Zelenskyy said military advisers had been threatened with possible limits on intelligence sharing in the future.
Ukraine could feature in Brussels
European leaders were due to focus on internal matters, including the bloc’s next budget. Zelenskyy was expected to join them in Brussels on Friday. The strain between Ukraine and the US could overshadow the meeting, despite its focus on European Union business. The article also quotes the Dutch prime minister calling the conflict a “senseless war of aggression” that continues because of Vladimir Putin.
Key points
- Musk suggested Washington could be behind limits affecting satellite technology used by Ukraine’s military.
- He said Starshield is government-controlled, while Starlink is a commercial SpaceX service.
- Trump denied ending intelligence sharing; Zelenskyy reported warnings that it could be limited.
- Zelenskyy was expected at Friday’s Brussels meeting, where the US-Ukraine dispute could loom large.