Ukraine: Trump claims Kyiv’s Starlink access restored, but Ukrainian sources report no change

Conflicting accounts of Starlink access

Trump said SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk had put Ukraine’s Starlink access back in place. He would not confirm whether he had personally contacted Musk, saying only that the service had been restored.

Ukraine relies on Starlink for communications on the battlefield and for drone missions. The restrictions had hindered Ukrainian attack and air-defence drone operations against Russia.

Zelensky warns of Russian gains

Zelensky warned that Russian president Vladimir Putin believes his maximalist aims may now be within reach. Those aims include taking full control of four Ukrainian regions. In a post on X on Thursday, Zelensky said Russia was exploiting a reduction in air-defence supplies from Ukraine’s partners.

Talks and exchange of remains

Putin said Russia was ready to restart US-mediated talks with Ukraine next month. He said discussions should address security for both countries after the conflict, and said US envoy Steve Witkoff had raised European security arrangements.

Zelensky said he hoped negotiations, which would be the first since February, could take place early in November. The article gives both next month and early November as the possible timing.

Belarus’s Belta news agency reported an exchange of war dead: Russia handed over 252 bodies and Ukraine 25. Such exchanges have accompanied steps toward talks in the past.