{
  "id": 15099226,
  "title": "‘It wasn’t me’: Trump denies cutting Ukraine’s Starshield access",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/it-wasnt-me-trump-denies-cutting-ukraines-starshield-access",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T02:27:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/17/it-wasnt-me-trump-denies-cutting-ukraines-starshield-access/239409"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Washington, October 17 - Former US President Donald Trump denied on Wednesday that he had cut Ukraine's access to Starshield services, amid accusations of tensions between the two countries. Tech billionaire Elon Musk had earlier claimed that any restrictions on the SpaceX-operated communications system would have been imposed by Trump. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky reported restrictions to the service on Wednesday, shortly after Trump criticized Kyiv for targeting Russian oil refineries. Trump told journalists, \"It wasn't me. And I don't think it was Elon.\" He added, \"What I understand is, (it's) the same as it's always been.\" Musk had previously stated that limits on speed or usage of Starshield systems were decided by the US military and ultimately, the US president. Ukraine utilizes Starshield, a military-grade satellite service, for battlefield communications, mid-range strikes on Russian-occupied territory, and interceptor drones. It also uses SpaceX's civilian Starlink satellite system.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON, Oct 17 — Donald Trump said yesterday he did not request a reduction in Starshield services for Ukraine...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The denial shifts responsibility for potential communication disruptions away from political leadership and toward military decision-making, complicating the narrative surrounding the influence of private tech billionaires on battlefield access.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}