OMM Newsroom
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that “Starlink” had not been completely switched off in Ukraine, but speed restrictions were affecting some military and humanitarian operations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s Defence Ministry was in contact with partners. He added that he had received indications from the White House that the service would be fully restored.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine did not use “Starlink” for deep strikes against targets inside Russia. Instead, he said, the system helped operate interceptor drones against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones, while the restrictions also affected Ukraine’s ability to conduct medium-range strikes on military targets.
Drones using “Starlink” were also used to deliver food and water to Ukrainian personnel in positions exposed to enemy drone attacks, he said.
Ukraine receives information from the United States specifically about Russian ballistic missile launches, Zelenskyy said, adding that dozens of countries also share intelligence with Kyiv.
He said Ukraine receives PAC-2 and PAC-3 air defence missiles from the United States through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, with European countries financing the deliveries. “So it’s no gift. It’s not for free,” he said, adding that Ukraine was not currently a priority destination for the missiles as many were being sent to the Middle East.
Zelenskyy criticized a recent US-Russia diesel deal and the prospect of lifting sanctions, saying Kyiv had not been informed beforehand. Ukraine had proposed an energy ceasefire and offered the United States the use of anti-ballistic missiles to protect energy infrastructure for the duration of the arrangement, he said.
“Don’t give too many. Give us for the period you’ll need for the duration of the diesel deal. I have not received that,” Zelenskyy said.
Responding to Donald Trump’s remark that he was more difficult to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy said negotiating with the US president was easier than dealing with the Russian leader.
Ending the war remained his priority, Zelenskyy said, but he accused Putin of showing no genuine interest in negotiations. He warned that easing sanctions could lead to wider agreements with Moscow in energy, the chemical industry and banking.
“In my view, we cannot perceive diesel deals, these arrangements. We cannot accept them because then there will be gas agreements. I’m sure of that,” he said.
Zelenskyy rejected the idea that the war was solely about control of the Donbas, saying Ukraine’s national existence was at stake. “The issue is not withdrawing from Donbas. It’s the issue of our country’s existence,” he said, arguing that Moscow’s aims extend beyond eastern Ukraine.
He said European countries understood the risks posed by Russia and urged partners to continue supporting Kyiv.
