On Thursday, President Donald Trump said Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) restored Ukraine’s access to Starlink.
Trump Reportedly Pressed Musk to Restore Starlink Access
Trump’s remarks followed a Wall Street Journal report that he had called Musk and asked him to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of the satellite internet service.
Asked whether he had spoken to the SpaceX CEO, Trump declined to confirm or deny the conversation, Reuters reported.
"I don’t want to comment on it, whether I called or whether somebody else called, doesn’t make any difference, I guess," Trump told reporters. "The bottom line — he put it back."
The president did not provide further details about the reported conversation.
Ukraine’s Starlink Speeds Remain a Concern
Starlink is a critical communications tool for Ukrainian forces, supporting battlefield connectivity and drone operations against Russia. The reported restrictions disrupted Ukrainian attack and air defense drone missions.
According to WSJ, the system began functioning more normally Thursday after a reported conversation between Trump and Musk.
However, some Ukrainian officials told the publication that service had not been fully restored, although speeds had improved compared with those under the restrictions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier Thursday that Starlink speeds had not been restored, adding that he hoped to speak with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the coming days.
Trump reportedly told Musk he was frustrated that Starlink speeds remained capped.
SpaceX’s Role In Ukraine’s War Draws Scrutiny
Trump has denied involvement in the original decision to restrict Starlink speeds. Rubio said Wednesday that SpaceX and Musk, not the White House, made decisions about Ukraine’s access.
The dispute comes as Washington-Kyiv relations deteriorate amid Trump’s efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, including moves involving Russian diesel and sanctions on Moscow.
Meanwhile, Russia launched ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, while Ukraine sent hundreds of drones toward Moscow on Thursday.
Price Action: SpaceX shares closed at $144.75 on Thursday, down 9.14%. The stock rose 1.17% to $146.45 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro.
According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, SpaceX maintains positive price trends across the short-, medium- and long-term horizons.
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