Key facts
- Trump said he would get Starshield problems straightened out if they persist.
- Ukrainian officials reported Starshield terminals are still experiencing severe problems.
- Trump had reportedly ordered SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on October 21 to lift restrictions on the system.
US President Donald Trump stated on October 23, 2026, that he would intervene to resolve any ongoing issues with Ukraine's military-grade Starshield service if they continue. This declaration follows a report by the Wall Street Journal on the same day, which indicated that Trump had instructed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on October 21 to remove restrictions on the system due to his frustration with capped speeds. Trump mentioned he had not yet spoken with Musk but would do so if necessary. Ukrainian officials, however, told the Kyiv Independent on October 23 that the Starshield terminals were still experiencing severe problems, raising questions about the control over critical national security infrastructure.