Zelensky says he proposed Starlink access in Russia to Trump

A report published on October 15 said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had proposed to U.S. President Donald Trump opening Starlink service on Russian territory so Ukrainian forces could target Russian ballistic-missile launch systems. Zelensky described the proposal as a way to pressure Russia into negotiations and make attacks on its energy infrastructure unnecessary, according to United24 Media’s account of his interview.

What Zelensky proposed

The proposal concerned enabling Starlink service in Russia for Ukrainian strikes on ballistic-missile launch systems. United24 Media reported Zelensky’s remarks as a proposal to Trump; the account did not describe an approved service change.

What the terminal restrictions measured

Separate reports about Ukrainian military terminals described limits tied to how fast a terminal was moving, not to the internet connection’s data speed. Kyiv Post reported a threshold of about 160 km/h; Ukraine’s Defense Ministry later described a formal limit of approximately 161 km/h. Unit reports placed connection losses at varying speeds, from about 72 to 161 km/h.

On October 14, Mykhailo Fedorov said connectivity was being restored for terminals moving up to 160 km/h. The restriction on faster-moving terminals remained, according to Kyiv Post’s reporting. Its account concerned Ukrainian military Starshield users; Zelensky’s reported proposal named Starlink. NeoTeo previously covered reports of restrictions on Ukrainian military terminals.

Which operations could be affected

The reported limits affected interceptor drones, medium-range strikes, reconnaissance, communications relays and frontline logistics, Kyiv Post reported. They were not described as a nationwide shutdown of all Starlink connections.

AFP’s report published by France 24 said sources did not expect the restrictions to affect long-range attacks on refineries deep inside Russia, where Starlink does not operate. Researcher Yohann Michel said medium-range operations in Crimea, occupied eastern Ukraine and the Black Sea could be affected.