Zelenskyy says Starshield service for Ukraine's military not fully restored after White House throttling

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told European leaders that the Starshield satellite internet service, used by Ukraine’s armed forces, has not yet returned to its previous speed limits after a White House directive slowed the connection. He said the defence ministry had received signals that the capability would be restored, and confirmed that the service was improving but still below earlier levels.

Zelenskyy described the reduction in speed as a “very dangerous and unpleasant surprise,” noting that the slowdown hampers Ukraine’s air-defence systems that rely on the network. Reuters cited two U.S. officials and a Western source who said the order to throttle Starshield originated inside the White House, though the specific official was not identified.

During the same visit in Brussels, Zelenskyy asked the European Union for an additional €70 billion for 2025 to fund Ukraine’s defence against Russia, adding that the war could cost €155 billion in 2027. He emphasized the need for continued financial support to maintain military capabilities.

The meeting also highlighted tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who earlier called Ukraine’s recent strikes on Russian oil refineries “a disgrace” on the Newsmax television channel, arguing they would raise global oil prices. Analysts noted that the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran is affecting diesel exports, while the Ukraine war also contributes to market pressures.

The EU continues to provide regular payments from a €90 billion funding plan approved last December, covering two-thirds of Kyiv’s civilian and military needs through 2026-27. Zelenskyy suggested creating a special EU-controlled custodian to manage frozen Russian assets, aiming to reduce the risk of those funds being diverted.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to maintaining sanctions on Russia until the conflict ends, citing Russia’s failure to respect a proposed energy ceasefire.