Europe seeks satellite independence after US restricts Ukraine's Starlink access

The US restricted Ukraine's military Starlink service, prompting European leaders to accelerate efforts to reduce reliance on American satellite technology. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the slowdown hindered drone interception capabilities. The White House ordered the Starshield slowdown after pressing Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian refineries. EU lawmakers are urging faster access to the Govsatcom program and development of the IRIS2 satellite network, though it is not expected until 2030. European politicians are also pushing to limit Starlink's market dominance by supporting domestic telecom operators for satellite frequencies. Ukraine is holding bilateral talks with EU nations, including France, for alternative satellite capabilities.