On October 18, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied the claims made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the slowdown of the Starlink service for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Rubio stated that no orders had been given by the U.S. administration to implement such measures.
Zelensky's Claims About Starlink
Yesterday, Zelensky claimed that the speed of Starlink for Ukraine continues to slow down to a level of no more than 160 km/h. He expressed concern about this issue, emphasizing the importance of stable internet access for military operations.
Rubio's Comments
In response to these accusations, Rubio noted that:
- The slowdown of Starlink was not intentional;
- The signal was not slowed down at the direction of the U.S.;
- The speed has already been restored;
- The issue of access to the Starshield product, which is a military product, is currently under discussion.
He also added that he is not sure if Zelensky understands what he is talking about, but assured that no one in the White House ordered to slow down the internet or reduce speed.
Negotiations Regarding Starshield
Rubio emphasized that Starshield is a defense product that is currently unavailable to Ukraine. Negotiations about the potential use of this product are ongoing, and he hopes for further discussions.