Germany Presses Washington on Starshield Speed Cap as Zelensky Says Europe Is Building a Replacement

Since Ukrainian officials disclosed on Oct. 14 that Starshield terminals were being throttled at 100 mph, the fight has shifted from who did it to who pays, who answers, and who replaces the system.

The newest pressure comes from Berlin. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told broadcaster ZDF that the full circumstances remain unclear but that Germany has questions for its American allies.

"Germany financed some of the Starlink equipment in Ukraine, and therefore we naturally insist that it works if we are paying for it," Wadephul said. "This will be examined. Ukraine must receive all the support."

Germany wants the speed restriction lifted. Wadephul also said he expects backing for Kyiv in both major U.S. parties to become clearer after the American midterm elections.

Senators ask for a Pentagon probe

Nine members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, four of them Republicans, have asked the Pentagon's inspector general to investigate whether U.S. officials were involved in suspending Starshield services or knew about the decision in advance, according to UATV's account of the letter.

The senators warned the disruptions could undermine Ukraine's defense and endanger U.S. diplomats, military personnel and security staff.

The request lands on top of Reuters' reporting that the order came from inside the White House. Trump has denied personally ordering a slowdown. A White House official quoted by Reuters did not say whether another administration official could have made the call.

Zelensky changes his tone

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Zelensky said in the United Kingdom that he hoped the cap was "a mistake, maybe a huge technical problem."

By Saturday, Oct. 17, in an online Q&A with journalists, he was describing something else. He said Starlink terminals in Ukraine shut down above 161 km/h, which matches the 100 mph figure, while tests in the EU showed the system working above 180 km/h. He called it a "planned operation," according to a summary of his remarks.

Zelensky said the limit blocks some high-speed interceptor drones from engaging Russia's jet-powered Shahed drones and prevents deliveries to isolated frontline units at required speeds. He offered no documentation for the "planned" label. He also stressed that Ukraine continues to rely on Starlink and work with SpaceX.

His adviser Serhii Beskrestnov has said the change disrupted several missions and was politically motivated. He did not provide evidence or name who might have sought it.

What Musk and the government have said

Musk's position has not changed since Wednesday. He wrote on X that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government and that "any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS." He separated it from commercial Starlink, which he said cannot be used for offensive military action.

Musk did not say which official, if any, authorized the cap or why. Nor has the Pentagon explained it on the record.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski asked Musk publicly whether he was "playing politics with your products again." Poland has said it pays for Ukraine's Starlink subscription.

The record on restoration is mixed. Mykhailo Fedorov said Wednesday that connectivity at speeds up to 160 km/h was being restored but that removing the Starshield limit entirely was "critical." Defense Ministry sources told The Kyiv Independent on Thursday that units using Starshield on the move reported service was back, though it was unclear whether every restriction had been lifted.

A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that Ukraine got no advance warning and relies on service contracted through the U.S. government until May 15, 2027.

Europe looks for a backup

Zelensky said Europeans have seen that Washington can regulate Starlink "regardless of agreements and contracts" and are already working on alternatives. "They will have success in this area. I can already see it," he said.

On the EU side, discussions are underway on connecting Ukraine to Govsatcom, the bloc's secure satellite communications system, which pools capacity from member states. No timeline or capacity figures have been announced.

Open questions

The core dispute is unresolved. Musk says the government sets the limits. Trump denies ordering it. Reuters' sources point to the White House. Kyiv says the cap hurt its drone defense during a week when Russian strikes left roughly 600,000 Ukrainians without power.

The Pentagon inspector general has not announced whether it will take up the senators' request. If it does, the first thing to establish is which official issued the instruction and when.