EU leaders urge action on Ukraine's Starlink dependency

European Union leaders addressed Ukraine's critical dependence on Starlink satellite communications for military operations, following reported service disruptions, with no immediate European alternative available to replace the US-owned system. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe cannot replace Starlink in the short term, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the summit. Ukraine relies on Starshield for battlefield communications and strikes, while Kyiv reported restrictions this week, which Elon Musk attributed to the US government. European leaders stressed the urgency of developing independent capabilities, with the European Defence Agency mapping critical gaps. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten discussed future European service options with France, while British Defence Minister Wes Streeting confirmed service restoration after discussions with US counterpart Pete Hegseth.