What he says: “I just checked this morning: It wasn’t us,” Trump told reporters. “I don’t know if it was anyone, because it wasn’t me and I don’t think it was Elon.”
- He was responding to a question about a Reuters report that said the order to slow down the satellite system came from the White House.
The other side: Ukrainian officials remain highly skeptical of Trump’s claims and believe someone in the U.S. government had a hand in throttling the systems.
- “Our people who spoke to SpaceX say the White House was involved in the decision,” a Ukrainian official said.
Catch up quickly: The Ukrainian military uses SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications system to control and operate its reconnaissance and interception drones. When Starlink is not operating at full capacity, Ukraine’s ability to gather intelligence, use interceptor drones, and carry out long-range strikes against Russia is hampered.
- Ukraine relies on two satellite systems: one is SpaceX’s Starlink, which it uses for communications, ground forces, logistics and defensive drones – those that shoot down incoming drones.
- The other is Starshield, controlled by the US government and used for offensive military purposes.
- Both systems were restricted, according to Ukraine.
- In a post on X on Wednesday, Musk implied that the US government was involved in disrupting Starshield.
- “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or use are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” he wrote.
The big picture: The limitations came days after a new crisis erupted between the United States and Ukraine following Trump’s agreement to lift sanctions on Russian oil sales. Zelensky criticized the move, then Trump called on Ukraine to elect a new president.
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