Finland and Ukraine sign satellite deal to cut Starlink reliance

Finnish space technology company Iceye and network company Nokia have signed a letter of intent with Ukraine's defense ministry to develop Ukrainian satellite communication, aiming to reduce the country's dependence on American Starlink. The agreement was signed Thursday during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's visit to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the satellite deal important for Ukraine's defense and resilience, according to Kyiv Independent. Iceye CEO Rafal Modrzewski stated that Ukraine needs secure, independent, and powerful satellite communication systems under its own control. The Iceye-Nokia collaboration was first announced earlier in October. Ukraine's military currently relies on Starlink, controlled by American billionaire Elon Musk. Speed restrictions on the military version Starshield remain in place despite reports that Musk or President Donald Trump ordered them lifted. Trump declined to clarify Thursday whether he had urged Musk to restore speeds, saying the main thing is that it was restored.