Trump Denies Role in Reported Starlink Restrictions on Ukraine, Says He Doesn't Know Who Ordered Them

President Donald Trump on Wednesday denied involvement in restricting Ukraine's Starlink service and said he did not know whether Elon Musk ordered it, amid mounting friction in U.S.-Ukraine relations over satellite communications, intelligence sharing and arms deliveries. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing unnamed U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter, that Musk ordered limits on Ukraine's military-grade Starlink service and had discussed the matter with Trump. Leaving the White House for a campaign rally in South Carolina, Trump told reporters: "I wasn't involved." Asked whether Musk gave the order, he said, "I don't know who did it, but I wasn't involved." The restrictions concern the speeds at which terminals can maintain satellite connectivity, reportedly rendering some Ukrainian attack and interceptor drones nearly inoperable. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Starlink terms for Ukraine are decided by SpaceX and Musk, not the White House; Musk has said the military Starshield system is owned and controlled by the U.S. government. Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Kyiv had resumed receiving missile warning intelligence after talks with Washington. The Kremlin said Wednesday that Putin, after meeting U.S. envoy Witkoff, agreed in principle to resume trilateral technical talks, possibly in Abu Dhabi on or after November 10.