Zelenskyy says he feels betrayed as US-linked Starlink restrictions deepen tensions with Washington

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said he feels "betrayed" by Donald Trump as a dispute over satellite communications and intelligence support deepens between Kyiv and Washington. The comments came as Elon Musk suggested that limits on Ukraine's use of SpaceX satellite technology may be controlled by the US government. The row has raised fresh concern in Kyiv about the reliability of a key military partner during the war.

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Musk said in a post that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, and that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately the president. He also said Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX and is limited to civilian or defensive activities. Ukraine says the restrictions are affecting its ability to use key defensive weapons, although the exact operational impact has not been fully detailed.

Zelenskyy's remarks came in a television interview in which he said he feared losing "a strong partner" at a critical moment for Ukraine's defence. In a separate interview with a US broadcaster, he said military advisers had received threats from the US that intelligence sharing could be limited in the future. Trump has denied that his administration cut intelligence sharing on Tuesday, but the exchange has added to uncertainty over the scope and durability of US support.

The dispute matters because satellite communications and intelligence are central to Ukraine's battlefield coordination and wider defence effort. Any restriction on access to those systems could affect how Ukrainian forces communicate, gather information and use certain weapons. The issue also highlights how dependent Kyiv remains on foreign military and technological support as the war continues.

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Starlink has become one of the most closely watched elements of that support since the full-scale war began, because it provides resilient communications in areas where conventional networks are damaged or unavailable. Starshield, which Musk described as controlled by the US government, appears to sit even more directly within the military sphere. The distinction between a commercial service and a government-controlled system is now at the centre of the dispute.

Musk also escalated the political tone of the row by responding to Zelenskyy's criticism of Trump and suggesting that the Ukrainian president should leave office. That intervention added a personal dimension to an already sensitive policy disagreement. It also underlined how closely the debate over military support is tied to broader political tensions between Kyiv and Washington.

The comments come as European leaders meet in Brussels for political talks, where Ukraine is expected to feature in discussions later in the week. The timing matters because the dispute with the US risks overshadowing wider diplomatic efforts around Ukraine's war effort and future support. It also comes at a moment when Kyiv is seeking to preserve backing from both the United States and European partners.

The broader context is a war in which communications, intelligence and access to advanced technology have become strategic assets in their own right. Ukraine has repeatedly relied on external support to maintain battlefield resilience, while Western governments have had to balance assistance with concerns over control, escalation and the use of supplied systems. The current row shows that those questions remain unresolved.

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What remains unclear is the precise extent of any restrictions on Starlink or Starshield use, and whether they are already affecting operations on the ground. It is also not clear whether the intelligence-sharing dispute will lead to any formal policy change from Washington. The next developments are likely to come from further statements by Ukrainian and US officials, and from any clarification on the status of satellite support and intelligence cooperation.

#Ukraine #VolodymyrZelenskyy #ElonMusk #Starlink #Starshield