Trump: I Can't Say Who Slowed Starshield for Ukrainians

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with CBS television that he cannot say who slowed down the Starshield satellite communications system for Ukraine, but, according to him, it was not he himself. Starshield is a SpaceX system that Ukraine uses for communications in wartime conditions. The interview was reported by the outlet European Pravda.

The interviewer reminded Trump of a recent case in which the speed of the Starlink network dropped significantly, making it harder for Ukrainians to use it. He asked who actually controls the system in the combat zone. Trump replied that it was not him and added that he probably has a large influence over everything.

He also said the system eventually began working properly again. Trump said he cannot name who switched it off, but he knows that this person ultimately turned it back on, so Ukraine has it.

When the host pressed him to name the person responsible, Trump kept repeating that he did not know. He said the system is very good and its speed may have been reduced, but that he had not been shown evidence that this happened. Trump also claimed there are many lies surrounding the war, but that when he heard about the situation, the speed was increased again.

Earlier developments

The Wall Street Journal reported on 22 October that Trump called SpaceX chief Elon Musk and asked him to lift restrictions on Starshield's operation. Trump himself declined to say whether he had called the SpaceX owner directly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on 24 October that Starlink and Starshield had been restored to the speed they had before all the restrictions.