U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to "be very careful" about public statements claiming the U.S. government is restricting Starlink internet access in Ukraine. Bessent described Zelenskyy's accusations as "very reckless" and asserted they are not true.
The dispute centers on a recent slowdown in Starlink service, which has hindered Ukraine's ability to respond to Russian assaults. In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Zelenskyy asserted that Washington was to blame for the reduced connectivity and claimed Ukraine was cut off from American intelligence sharing for a period.
Bessent, also speaking on "Meet the Press," defended the Trump administration's position. He noted that President Donald Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio have categorically stated that no one under the current administration caused the slowdown. "I think it is very reckless for President Zelenskyy to make such a charge," Bessent said.
Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX provides the high-speed satellite internet, offered a different perspective last week. In a post on X, Musk stated that the U.S. government and President Trump are "ultimately" responsible for any slowdowns to Starshield, the military version of Starlink. "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government," Musk wrote, adding that limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately by the president.
President Trump has denied personal responsibility for the issue. "Well, I don't know if it was anybody because it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon," the president said last week. He added that from his understanding, the situation is the same as it has always been.