U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on October 18, 2026, calling claims that Washington throttled military Starlink access in Ukraine reckless and false. While Zelenskyy and SpaceX's Elon Musk pointed to U.S. government restrictions on Starshield systems during military drone operations, President Donald Trump denied involvement. Tensions mount as Trump criticizes Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries amid surging U.S. gas prices.
Allegations and denials of Starlink throttling
- ▪U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that both U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio categorically denied that anyone in the administration throttled Starlink in Ukraine
- ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on October 18, 2026 that the U.S. government sent a message to restrict Starlink internet speeds in Ukraine
- ▪U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on October 18, 2026 that it was reckless to claim the U.S. slowed down Starlink in Ukraine
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump denied ordering restrictions on Starlink for Ukraine, stating that neither he nor Elon Musk caused the Starlink service slowdown reported on October 14, 2026
Dispute over U.S. intelligence sharing
- ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was temporarily blocked from U.S. intelligence sharing during the Starlink service disruptions reported on October 14, 2026
- ▪U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on October 18, 2026 that he had no knowledge of any disruption in intelligence sharing between the U.S. and Ukraine
Donald Trump on energy prices
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social in October 2026 that diesel fuel prices for Americans and the world would come down fast in record numbers
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump publicly blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for rising global energy prices following Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries
Waiver of Russian energy sanctions
- ▪Republican Senator Thom Tillis criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for waiving congressional sanctions against Russia to permit Russian diesel imports
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump signed an 86-11 bipartisan Russian energy sanctions bill but waived portions of it citing national interest to allow importing Russian diesel
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