SpaceX not being honest about ‘political’ reasons for slowing Starshield, says Zelenskyy

Speaking on Friday, Zelenskyy said the restrictions affecting Ukrainian drones had been in place for five days, preventing them from flying at speeds over 161km/h (100mph). As a result, incoming Russian Shahed drones could no longer be intercepted, and Ukraine's own mid-range strikes against military targets in Russian-occupied territory were severely affected.

At the presidential palace in Kyiv, Zelenskyy revealed he had asked his military leadership to raise the issue with Elon Musk's company SpaceX, as well as with the Pentagon and the US state department. There was no clear explanation as to why Ukraine's operations were being throttled, despite SpaceX claiming no restrictions were in place.

Political Motive Suspected

Ukraine suspects the slowdown is a deliberate US tactic designed to pressure Zelenskyy into making concessions to Russia's president Vladimir Putin. The issue follows a similar problem last month and coincided with US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi featuring Ukrainian and Russian representatives.

Zelenskyy added that the problems were not isolated cases but were detected across the entire frontline. Every day, we test this in different directions. Every day, we get the same confirmation, he said.

Peace Talks and Demands

The Kremlin insists Ukraine give up the entire eastern Donbas region, a demand Zelenskyy categorically ruled out, calling Russian forces terrorists. He revealed that US negotiators, including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, had asked if Ukraine would consider giving up the Donbas in exchange for Nato membership or similar security guarantees.

Zelenskyy described the proposal details as vague and noted it didn't appear to involve US peacekeeping troops on the ground. He stressed the war could only end with a ceasefire agreement alongside meaningful security guarantees underwritten by western partners.

Winter Campaign and Diplomacy

Zelenskyy dismissed Putin's offer for a humanitarian mission in Kostiantynivka as a ploy to occupy the city. Putin simply wants us to leave Kostiantynivka so that they can move in and occupy the entire city that way, he said, noting civilians had already fled the area.

He called Russian attempts to discuss Europe's security architecture concerning, pointing to Putin's demand for Nato to return to its pre-1997 configuration. Putin's desire to change borders in Europe is a fact, Zelenskyy emphasized, adding that Ukraine had received tangible results from recent conversations with European leaders in Dublin, including ammunition supplies for F-16 jets.

Russia is betting everything on its winter campaign, escalating attacks on Ukrainian cities to make civilians capitulate. Zelenskyy suggested the US Congress could pressure Putin to de-escalate by passing sanctions laws and providing Ukraine with weapons.