US has not restricted Starshield operations in Ukraine – US defense secretary
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that the United States has neither restricted Starshield operations in Ukraine nor ordered any such restrictions.
Source: Hegseth in comments to journalists, as reported by Clash Report
Quote: "We haven't pulled anything back. There are terms of service that ultimately need to be complied with, and that's where Starlink has the option to make those decisions. But nothing's changed from our view. We haven't made any directives or anything like that."
Details: Hegseth also commented on the supply of interceptor missiles to Ukraine. He said the US wants to ensure that American service personnel have sufficient supplies of these missiles first.
Hegseth also stated the US position on Ukraine remains unchanged. He said the US wish Ukrainians good luck.
Background:
- On 16 October, US President Donald Trump said that the White House had nothing to do with the restrictions on Ukraine's access to Starlink.
- According to The Telegraph, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk approached Trump with the idea of slowing down Starlink and Starshield operations in Ukraine.
- On 17 October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a test conducted by Ukraine in EU countries had confirmed that the restrictions on its use of Starlink were imposed as part of a planned operation.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration "had nothing to do with" the restriction of Starlink's operation in Ukraine.
- On 18 October, Zelenskyy told NBC that the signal to restrict Starlink and Starshield access for Ukraine had come from the US government.
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