Recent reports suggest that President-elect Donald Trump has reached out to billionaire Elon Musk with a request to remove existing restrictions on Starlink satellite internet services within Ukraine. Starlink, operated by Musk’s company SpaceX, has been a critical communication tool for the Ukrainian military and civilian population since the onset of the Russian invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the current status of the service on Thursday, confirming that the anticipated restoration of Starlink speeds has not yet occurred. Zelenskiy indicated that he is looking to engage in direct discussions regarding the situation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the near future. While the reports of Trump’s request to Musk have circulated, there has been no official confirmation from the Trump transition team or SpaceX regarding the specific nature of these communications or any potential policy shifts.

The situation highlights the ongoing intersection of private technology infrastructure and international geopolitical conflict. Because Starlink is a private commercial entity, its operational parameters in conflict zones remain subject to both corporate decision-making and diplomatic pressure. As of now, the technical limitations on the service in the region remain in place, leaving Ukrainian officials to seek diplomatic channels to address the connectivity issues.