Former President Donald Trump has denied any involvement in the recent slowdown of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, stating he does not know who initiated the decision. His response came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, ordered the speed restrictions and discussed the move with Trump. Trump emphasized that he was not part of the decision and expressed uncertainty about Musk’s role.

The reduction in Starlink’s service has impacted military-grade Starshield capabilities, which are critical for Ukraine’s defense operations, particularly affecting the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently highlighted ongoing speed restrictions on both Starlink and Starshield across various frontline areas, noting that the U.S. government has not provided any explanations for these limitations. This disruption comes at a time when Ukraine continues to rely heavily on satellite communications for its military.

The Wall Street Journal’s report also mentioned that Musk consulted with several senior U.S. administration officials, including Trump, before implementing the speed cap on Starlink services. Musk has stated that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government and that any restrictions on its use are ultimately determined by the U.S. military and the President. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has initiated discussions with allies like Norway to develop new satellite communication capabilities to support Ukrainian forces.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn expressed skepticism that Musk would have imposed the restrictions without some level of White House approval. Both Trump and Musk have recently increased their criticisms of Zelenskyy, but neither has clarified who specifically authorized the Starlink service reductions. The ongoing controversy underscores tensions between U.S. policymakers, Musk, and the Ukrainian government regarding control and support of vital communications infrastructure in the conflict.