SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk attributed the reported slowdown of Starlink services in Ukraine to White House control, sparking debate over potential political leverage by President Donald Trump against Ukraine.

Brett Erickson, Managing Principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors, stated on social media platform X that many expect the disruption is a move by Trump to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into halting strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Erickson pointed to near all-time high gasoline and diesel prices in the U.S. as context for this strategic maneuver.

Musk shifts responsibility to administration

Musk responded to a Ukrainian official urging SpaceX to ensure no disruptions to the Starshield system by stating that the service is controlled by the White House. Erickson interpreted this as Musk shifting blame to Trump for the connectivity issues affecting Ukrainian drones.

Anthony Scaramucci, founder of Skybridge Capital, defended Musk following these comments. Scaramucci noted that the Starshield system is controlled by the U.S. military and asserted that questions regarding any disruptions should be directed to the Trump administration rather than SpaceX.

Zelenskyy rejects intelligence threat

In an interview with The Financial Times in London, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine would resume targeting Russian energy infrastructure. He criticized the slowing of the Starlink system and expressed dissatisfaction with Trump's purported admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskyy alleged that Ukrainian officials were informed by U.S. counterparts that they risked losing access to intelligence if strikes on Russia continued. "The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done," Zelenskyy said, indicating a rejection of the constraints imposed on their military operations.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also urged Musk not to disrupt Starlink connectivity in Ukraine as the conflict intensifies.

Trump has stated that the Russia-Ukraine war is getting closer to ending, marking a notable public assertion about the trajectory of the prolonged conflict.

Trump's statement on the Russia-Ukraine war

Trump declared that the Russia-Ukraine war is getting closer to ending. The statement represents a direct public assessment of the conflict's direction, drawing attention from observers tracking diplomatic and geopolitical developments surrounding the war.

No additional details, timelines, or conditions were specified alongside the assertion. The statement stands as a singular declaration regarding the status of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.