Musk Proposed Slowing Starlink in Ukraine, Trump Agreed — The Telegraph

Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, was the one who approached US President Donald Trump with the idea of slowing down Starlink operations in Ukraine, according to The Telegraph citing its own sources. Trump reportedly agreed with the proposal, which opened the path for the Pentagon to impose speed restrictions on Starshield — the military version of the satellite communication system used by Ukrainian forces.

One source told the publication that the decision effectively allowed the Pentagon to implement throttling on Starshield bandwidth used by Ukrainian troops for battlefield communication and drone operations.

On Wednesday, Musk denied personal responsibility for the restrictions, directing blame at the White House. He claimed that any speed or usage limits were determined by the US military and ultimately by the US president. However, a senior source told The Telegraph that Musk had been worried about potential negative consumer reactions in Europe.

Speaking at the White House on Friday, October 16, Trump told reporters he did not believe either he or Musk was responsible for Ukraine losing Starlink access. The Pentagon has not publicly explained the reasons for the restrictions.

Republican Senator Tom Tillis has initiated a congressional investigation into the Pentagon's handling of the Starlink issues affecting Ukrainian troops. President Zelensky has described the decision to restrict Starlink access as a mistake that would cost human lives.