Prime Minister Andy Burnham raised Ukraine’s access to Starlink satellite communications directly with US President Donald Trump during a telephone call on Friday 23 October 2026, Downing Street has confirmed.
The intervention came as Ukrainian officials disputed Trump's earlier assurance that restrictions affecting the system had been removed. In a subsequent development on Saturday 24 October, Ukraine's defence minister said full connectivity for fast-moving military equipment had been restored.
What Downing Street confirmed
In its official account of the leaders' conversation, No 10 said Burnham underlined the importance of Ukraine having full access to Starlink to defend itself against Russia's invasion. The leaders also discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war, energy cooperation and other international issues.
The Downing Street statement confirms that Burnham raised the issue, but it does not establish that the telephone call caused any subsequent change in the service.
Ukraine reported restrictions on Friday
Reuters reported on Friday that five Ukrainian officials said speed restrictions introduced on 13 October were still affecting satellite connections for drones travelling faster than approximately 160 km/h. Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said officials had not observed a general lifting of the limits.
The restrictions were reported to have complicated Ukraine's drone operations, including efforts to defend cities against Russian attacks. Trump said on Friday that he would seek to resolve any remaining problem, and would speak to SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk if necessary.
Saturday update: Ukraine says access restored
On 24 October, the Associated Press reported that Ukraine's defence minister said the speed restrictions had been lifted, with monitoring indicating stable connections for equipment travelling at more than 400 km/h. That announcement postdates the Friday reports of continuing disruption.
The precise responsibility for the original restrictions remains disputed in public reporting. The available statements do not establish who ordered them or whether Burnham's intervention was decisive in securing their removal.
Wider diplomatic implications
The episode highlights Ukraine's reliance on satellite communications for battlefield operations and the sensitivity of decisions affecting access to privately developed systems. Britain's public intervention also underlines the importance Downing Street attaches to maintaining Ukraine's defensive capabilities while pursuing diplomatic engagement with Washington.
Sources: 10 Downing Street: PM call with President Trump (23 October 2026); Reuters: Ukraine reports continuing speed restrictions (23 October); Reuters: Trump's response (23 October); Associated Press: Ukraine says speed limits lifted (24 October).