The key facts
- US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker called the dispute over Starlink in Ukraine a commercial matter of terms of use, not a policy of the Trump administration
- He rejected suggestions that Washington restricted Ukraine's access to the system or used it as a tool of pressure
- Elon Musk's Starlink remains an important communications channel for Kyiv in the war with Russia
Whitaker: the disagreements are commercial in nature
US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said that the dispute over the use of Starlink satellite internet in Ukraine is related to the terms of service of a private company, not to the Trump administration's policy. 'This is a private company. Obviously, they have terms of use that apply to all customers, including Ukrainians,' he said in an interview, emphasizing the commercial nature of the disagreements. According to him, it is rather a dispute of that kind than an attempt by anyone in the administration to change the rules for using Starshield or Starlink.
Denial of political pressure on Kyiv
Whitaker's statements came against the backdrop of reports that SpaceX founder Elon Musk stood behind the recent restriction of Ukraine's access to the system, which, according to publications, hampered the country's defense against Russian strikes and limited its own attacks. Whitaker rejected these interpretations, stating that Washington did not deprive Ukraine of access to the system and did not seek to use it as a means of retaliation. Starlink, operated by Musk's company SpaceX, has become an important communications channel for Kyiv during the Russo-Ukrainian war.
