U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has issued a warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging caution in making public accusations about the United States’ support for Ukraine. This response comes after Zelenskyy claimed that the U.S. was responsible for restrictions imposed on Starlink, the high-speed satellite internet service crucial for Ukraine’s military operations, which recently experienced a slowdown affecting drone usage against Russian forces. Bessent refuted these claims on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” emphasizing that no one under the Trump administration was responsible for the slowdown and labeled Zelenskyy’s statements as reckless.

The controversy centers around the military-specific version of Starlink, known as Starshield, which Ukraine uses for defense communication and drone control. Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX operates Starlink, confirmed publicly that any limitations on Starshield’s capabilities are controlled by the U.S. government and military authorities, with ultimate decisions resting with President Donald Trump. Despite reports that the White House ordered the service restrictions, Trump has denied any involvement, stating that the situation remained unchanged under his watch.

The dispute unfolds against a backdrop of strained U.S.-Ukraine relations during Trump’s second term, in which the president has shown frustration toward Ukraine’s military actions, especially attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. Trump has linked these events to rising energy prices in the U.S., even blaming Zelenskyy for contributing to problems affecting American farmers and ranchers through diesel fuel cost increases. These assertions come as gas and diesel prices remain at record levels, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions involving conflicts in the Persian Gulf and U.S. hostilities with Iran.

In addition to the Starlink controversy, Trump’s energy policies have drawn bipartisan criticism, particularly his move to import Russian diesel as a means to lower U.S. fuel prices—a step that clashes with Congress’s stringent sanctions against Russia’s energy sector. Despite passing sanctions by an 86-11 Senate vote, Trump has waived parts of the legislation, arguing this serves the national interest, but facing condemnation from lawmakers who view the action as capitulating to Russia amid its ongoing aggression in Ukraine.