Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says restrictions on SpaceX satellite services remain in place inside Ukraine, hampering military drone operations and efforts to supply frontline troops.

Conflicting explanations: Ukrainian officials say they have received contradictory accounts about whether the restrictions stem from a technical fault or a political decision involving the Trump administration or Elon Musk.

“SpaceX as a company tells us it is a technical problem. But our contacts in the company say it is coming from the White House. When we ask the White House, they say it is Elon,” a Ukrainian official told Axios.

Musk said Starshield usage limits are controlled by the U.S. government and military. Trump has denied that his administration restricted Ukraine’s Starlink access.

Questions over a possible plan: The Telegraph reported that Musk proposed limiting Starlink and Starshield services used by Ukrainian forces. A source familiar with the discussion told Axios that Trump did not object. The White House rejected the report.

“This is totally false. As President Trump said, we didn’t slow down Starlink at all, and the service is currently operational,” a White House official said.

Tests point to Ukraine-specific limits: Zelenskyy said tests showed satellite connections remained active at 180 kilometers per hour in EU countries but disconnected at 161 kilometers per hour after vehicles entered Ukraine. Previously, the network reportedly worked with drones traveling up to 400 kilometers per hour.

“The conclusion is that the restrictions apply inside Ukraine but do not apply in European Union countries. In other words, this is a planned operation,” Zelensky said.

Military impact: Ukraine relies on Starlink for communications, logistics and defensive drones, while U.S.-controlled Starshield supports offensive operations. Kyiv says restrictions on both systems could weaken intelligence gathering, drone interception and long-range strikes against Russia.

Diplomatic efforts: Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, discussed the issue with Trump adviser Jared Kushner on Friday. They also discussed holding further U.S.-Ukraine talks next week on the Trump administration’s latest proposal to end the war with Russia.