WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tensions between the US and Ukraine seem to be growing more tense after President Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russia and attacks on Russian oil refineries. On top of this, there were reports of the speed for the internet satellite network that helps Ukraine’s military was reportedly slowed down at the request of the US military and Trump.
In an interview with The Financial Times, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said strikes on Russian oil refineries will resume. On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said a drone strike was fired on a refinery about 180 miles southeast of Moscow. Ukraine held off on attacks for days after President Trump announce an energy ceasefire. On the social media platform X, Zelenskyy said Russia has sent several waves of ballistic missile strikes and drone attacks and accused Russia of attacking their power grid.
On top of that, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense says internet speeds from Starshield, which is a military-grade satellite network developed by billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is back up to normal speeds on Thursday following reports of it slowing down.
On X, Musk said Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. He said: “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the us military and ultimately POTUS,” meaning President of the United States.
This comes after reports of the Trump administration warning Ukraine and allies in Europe that the US could suspend intellligence sharing if Kyiv did not stop their deep strikes on Russian energy facilities.
We reached out to the White House about the Starshield speed change but did not hear back.
Tensions between the US and Ukraine are already being strained after President Trump recently made a deal with Russia that would ease sanctions on Russia’s exports of diesel fuel. He defended that deal: “That’s a diesel deal, not for us,” said the President. “That’s being released into the world. That’s not being released to us. That’s a diesel deal that’s going to be released into the world for the world market because the world market suffered with high prices.”
That deal has received bipartisan pushback with congressional members asking Trump to rescind the deal. They called the deal “a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies.”
