US possibly slowed Starlink to leverage Ukraine in negotiations with Russia - FT
Photo: The US may have limited Starlink speeds to pressure Ukraine (Getty Images)
The US may have intentionally limited Starlink speeds over the frontline to pressure Ukraine during peace negotiations with Russia. This significantly complicates the Armed Forces of Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian jet-powered drones, according to the Financial Times.
As FT notes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the military is recording "systematic speed limitations" for the Starshield military service, which is funded by the Pentagon.
Communication speeds over the frontline and occupied territories have been reduced to 161 km/h (100 mph).
“These are not random errors, but systematic speed restrictions. For us, this primarily means a significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones," Zelenskyy emphasized.
High-ranking Ukrainian officials believe that communication speeds were restricted intentionally to pressure Kyiv during peace talks. One official noted that Washington appears to be seeking to strengthen Russia's position.
This occurs precisely as US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow for negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Afterward, they plan to travel to Ireland for a meeting with Zelenskyy.
Kyiv added that these restrictions help Russians kill more Ukrainians and deliver more precise strikes.
The Office of the President has already contacted Washington to clarify the circumstances. Meanwhile, SpaceX, the White House, and the US Embassy have not yet commented on the situation.
At the same time, the European Commission stated that reports of disruptions cause deep concern and, if confirmed, will be unacceptable.
They emphasized that SpaceX must urgently restore Starshield services for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, European capitals fear that Russia is using negotiations to overhaul the entire security architecture of the continent.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that Europe has fallen into a "trap" by agreeing to discuss these issues in exchange for a seat at the negotiating table.
"Right now we are in a trap. Russia has no role in this discussion," he emphasized ahead of the EU leaders' summit in Dublin.
Earlier, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius warned that Starlink could lose Europe's trust due to failure to fulfill contractual obligations.
According to him, this is not about the company's goodwill toward Ukraine, but about contracts paid for by European countries.
Furthermore, it was previously reported that the agreement with the US government regarding Ukrainian military access to the Starshield satellite network is set to expire in 2027.
In this regard, Ukraine needs urgent negotiations with the US to extend this contract.
