Musk proposed Starlink speed limits in Ukraine to Trump
Elon Musk proposed to US President Donald Trump limiting the speed of Starshield in Ukraine, a decision that affected Ukrainian air defense capabilities against Russian drones, according to The Telegraph citing four sources. Trump reportedly agreed, enabling the Pentagon to impose restrictions. The limits were introduced amid a dispute between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. US officials warned Ukraine that intelligence sharing could be cut if long-range attacks continued. The speed cap of approximately 160 km/h complicated interception of Russian jets moving twice as fast. Musk initially denied involvement, shifting responsibility to US military and the president, though sources say he was concerned about European backlash. Zelensky called the restriction an unpleasant surprise, but reported connectivity was being restored. This follows Musk's 2022 refusal to enable drone attacks on Crimea, highlighting European dependence on SpaceX.