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By Ellie Cook
Senior Defense Reporter
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European officials have criticized newly reported restrictions on Ukraine's access to Starshield, the military-grade counterpart to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, fuelling European fears that the current U.S. administration cannot be relied upon to support its continental allies' national security.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Thursday the U.S. was aware Ukraine and other European countries were "simply not able to protect our citizens" without access to these satellites, according to comments reported by Ukrainian media.
Nearly five years after Vladimir Putin launched Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conflict remains one of the deadliest and most consequential wars of the 21st century. The grinding war has reshaped global alliances, strained economies and left prospects for a negotiated peace uncertain as both sides continue to battle along a vast front line.
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Frederiksen's remarks came hours after Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said Ukrainian troops had experienced "significant disruptions" to Starshield along more than 700 miles of Ukraine's frontline in recent days, as well as issues using the service in Russian-held areas of Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces mostly use Starlink, run by Musk's SpaceX, for communications and data transfers, rather than for guiding strikes on the battlefield.
But Kyiv says speed limits on its use of Starshield—which Musk insists the U.S. government controls—make it harder to intercept Russian jet-powered drones and stop Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying fast enough to hit Russian targets over medium distances before Moscow can shoot them down.
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"These are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions," Zelensky said, adding the curbs are "helping the Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes against Ukraine."
SpaceX told Axios the information was "false" and denied any changes to Ukraine's access. The U.S. government hasn't commented.
"We are trying to establish all the circumstances with the American side," Zelensky said. In a later statement on Friday, Zelensky said Ukraine still had "no clear explanations."
Why Does Ukraine Use Starshield or Starlink?
There's currently no real alternative to Starshield or Starlink for Ukraine, and the unexpected changes to Ukraine's access to both systems were uncomfortable reminders for officials in Kyiv about just how much the country still leans on U.S. support to carry out a range of operations against Russia.
But European members of NATO are also heavily dependent on U.S. space capabilities for military communications, reconnaissance, targeting and providing early warnings about incoming aerial threats.
Although European countries are working on their own designs, the process is slow and very expensive, while Starlink is by far the largest constellation in orbit.
Frederiksen said the issue would be raised with the U.S. because access to these satellites was key for defending against and deterring Russia, including in operating air defense systems.
"These reports are deeply concerning, and, if confirmed, this is unacceptable," Tom Regier, a spokesperson for the European Commission, said on Thursday. The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union.
"This latest round of restrictions should critically heighten European and British concerns about relying on Starlink," said James Westlake, the head of the U.K. team for Ukrainian intelligence firm, Molfar.
"It is now clear that access is dependent on the whims of a very small number of individuals," he told Newsweek.
Ukraine's public claims of limits to its Starshield access came as Zelensky met with European leaders in Ireland, as well as U.S. presidential envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The Latest On Russia-Ukraine Peace Negotiations
The White House, which has for months been embroiled in its war against Iran, has launched a renewed push for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The previous round of U.S.-brokered peace talks ended without a deal in February, despite President Donald Trump's campaign pledge to end the war in eastern Europe within 24 days once he returned to the Oval Office.
Witkoff and Kushner met with Zelensky in the Irish capital after traveling to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The previous changes to Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield access came amid White House pressure on Kyiv to negotiate with Russia.
In mid-October, Ukrainian drone pilots suddenly found their UAVs could only fly at significantly reduced speeds. Days later, Musk accused Ukraine of violating Starlink's terms of service by using the civilian system for lethal attacks, saying this "loophole" had now been closed.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense adviser to Zelensky, called Musk's remarks "very strange" and said Ukraine cannot use Starlink for strikes beyond the immediate front line.
Starlink does not work over Russian soil, and is capped as low as 43 miles per hour over Ukraine, including Moscow-held areas of Ukraine, Beskrestnov said.
But Musk denied being responsible for imposing constraints on Kyiv's use of Starshield at the time.
Now, New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Republican Senator Thom Tillis said in a joint statement on November 12, "It is outrageous that, just weeks after service was restored, Ukrainian officials are once again reporting restrictions on Starshield.
"At a time when the Trump Administration claims to be working toward peace, it is impossible to understand how undermining Ukraine's ability to defend itself gets us closer to that goal," the senators said.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Henry Holloway, Gray R. Thomas
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