Trump faces US officials' pressure to restore full Starlink access in Ukraine — NYT
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
In the US, representatives from both parties have exerted political pressure on President Donald Trump over restrictions on Starlink, which is used by the Ukrainian military, according to The New York Times.
Senators have warned White House officials that they may block the confirmation of Trump's nominees for government positions if the administration does not ensure that Ukraine's satellite internet service returns to normal speeds.
The standoff is intensifying amid US lawmakers' dissatisfaction with the Trump administration's increasingly soft stance toward Russia.
This could come to a head during the so-called session of Congress after the midterm elections in November, when Republicans plan to confirm dozens of the President's nominees before the current Congress goes out of session.
Why US senators pressure Trump
The conflict stems from restrictions on the Starlink satellite communication system and the Starshield military system, both used by the Ukrainian military.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported disruptions in the systems' operation, which hindered drone missions and the interception of Russian aerial targets.
The restrictions took effect in mid-October. In particular, drones lost connection with the satellite network while traveling at high speeds.
This created problems for both attack drones and interceptor drones, used to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian attacks.
A number of media outlets, citing their sources, reported that Elon Musk or representatives of the Trump administration may have been involved in the restrictions. At the same time, there is no definitively established and publicly confirmed explanation as to who exactly made the decision.
Subsequently, the US reported that satellite communications had allegedly returned to normal, but Kyiv has not confirmed this—the speed restrictions remain in effect.
