Trump has nothing to do with SpaceX decisions on Starlink, US does not refuse Ukraine anything for self-defense – Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified on Wednesday that President Donald Trump has no involvement in SpaceX's decision-making regarding the Starlink satellite communications and military Starshield systems. Rubio emphasized that SpaceX is a private company with its own contract and operational terms, and the US government cannot dictate such decisions. He reiterated that Trump cannot give instructions to the company about its actions.

Rubio also affirmed that the United States is not denying Ukraine any means for self-defense. He dismissed media reports claiming that the US government is withholding necessary resources from Ukraine, stating that this is inaccurate. Rubio affirmed that the United States has provided substantial aid to Ukraine, including billions of dollars since the Biden administration took office.

He highlighted that Ukraine's survival is largely due to the courage of its soldiers, who have outlasted predictions that the war would end within five days. The Secretary of State praised Ukraine's fighters for their bravery, despite the conflict stretching to nearly five years.

In October 2024, Ukraine began utilizing the military version of Starlink, known as Starshield, for faster communication. However, SpaceX unexpectedly restricted the operation of Starshield terminals for military drones traveling at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour. This restriction caused communication disruptions for various military units, limiting the range and effectiveness of UAV missions, including interceptors and middle-strike drones, as well as impacting logistics and reconnaissance capabilities.

Later, SpaceX restored the terminal operations at the 160 km/h speed limit on Ukrainian territory, but the limitation only applied within Ukraine's borders. Elon Musk stated that the US military and the president make decisions on these restrictions, not the company itself. However, Trump later denied US involvement in Ukraine's slowed Starshield operations. Rubio also clarified that SpaceX was not denied to Ukraine and that the White House had no role in the disruptions.

Rubio defended the US assistance to Ukraine, noting that it has been instrumental in the country's existence. He stressed that no other nation has aided Ukraine as much during both the Trump and Biden administrations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later reported that the American side had restored Ukraine's early warning system for Russian ballistic missile launches and expressed interest in further discussions with Rubio.