Zelenskyy depressed by US action on military restrictions

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warns “people will die” after sudden restrictions on the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites — a vital tool in Ukraine’s defence system — appeared to slow the country’s drones on the battlefield.

Zelenskyy also said Ukraine was denied the usual advance warning from its Western partners about coming strikes, deepening fears that Kyiv’s relationship with Washington was unravelling.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said any disruption was the US government’s responsibility, not his company’s. He drew a distinction between the Starshield system, which Ukraine relies on for battlefield communications, and the parallel Starlink civilian satellite system, which Ukraine also deploys but is not allowed to use for offensive operations.

Trump’s rhetoric towards Ukraine and Zelenskyy has hardened in recent weeks, with the US president agreeing to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports, and also called for Ukraine to find a new president. In response to increasingly frosty relations between Washington and Kyiv, Zelenskyy said it was a “pity” for Ukraine to lose a “strong partner”.