Trump asks Musk to lift Starlink restrictions in Ukraine

US President Donald Trump rang Elon Musk on Wednesday and said he wanted him to unlock his military-grade satellite internet system for Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

The system was reportedly functioning more properly on Thursday, right after the call, according to US and Ukrainian officials cited by the outlet. But some Ukrainian officials claimed the system wasn’t fully operational as yet, although speeds had increased.

Trump became impatient that the system was limited to roughly 100 miles (160 kilometres) per hour, according to The Wall Street Journal. The restrictions had hampered Ukrainian drones used to conduct strikes and to fend off Russian airstrikes.

Musk’s SpaceX provides Ukraine with satellite communication to the battlefield and for drone use. The restrictions interrupted some military operations in Ukraine, causing Kyiv to question the viability of a system that is an important part of its defence against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Starlink speeds had not yet been fully restored as of Thursday and that he intended to speak with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sometime in the next few days.

The White House had nothing to do with the decision, Rubio said on Wednesday. On Wednesday, Rubio said the ultimate decision for Ukraine to be allowed to use Starlink was made by SpaceX and Musk, not the White House.

The announcement comes despite mounting tensions between Washington and Kyiv over US policy towards Russia and ongoing Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities.