Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to be careful about public statements regarding U.S. support as tensions escalate over Starshield restrictions.
By Adam Makins·
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a stern warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, telling him to “be careful” about making public claims regarding American support for Ukraine. The rebuke centers on Zelenskyy’s recent allegations that the Trump administration deliberately restricted access to Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service.
In an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Zelenskyy stated he believed the U.S. government was responsible for the slowdown in internet connectivity and that Ukraine had been “blocked” from accessing American intelligence for a period. He further noted that Starshield-linked vehicles and drones continue to experience speed restrictions.
Bessent wasted no time dismissing these claims as reckless. “President Trump and Secretary Rubio have categorically said that no one under the Trump administration did that, and I think it is very reckless for President Zelenskyy to make such a charge,” Bessent said. “President Zelenskyy should be very careful about making statements like this that aren’t true.”
Yet here’s where the narrative gets complicated. Elon Musk himself, the SpaceX founder whose company provides the critical satellite service, seemingly contradicted the administration’s denials. In a post on X last week, Musk stated that the U.S. government and President Trump are “ultimately” responsible for any slowdowns to Starshield.
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government,” Musk wrote. “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.”
Reuters reported that the White House actually ordered the technology restrictions. Trump, however, has maintained his innocence, saying: “Well, I don’t know if it was anybody because it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon. And from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been.”
The Starshield controversy reflects deeper fractures in the U.S.-Ukraine relationship during Trump’s second term. The president has frequently antagonized Kyiv while simultaneously pushing for a peace deal with Russia. Most recently, Trump has expressed frustration with Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, blaming Zelenskyy for rising global energy prices.
“He wants to make problems for the world. He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel,” Trump said of the Ukrainian leader. While energy prices have indeed soared, the primary culprit appears to be a separate U.S. military conflict with Iran, which has severely disrupted the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted Persian Gulf oil shipments. The national average for gasoline reached nearly $4.30 per gallon on Sunday, with diesel at roughly $6.32.
Trump has proposed importing Russian diesel as a solution, even as Congress sent him an overwhelmingly bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russia’s energy sector. He signed the bill but then waived portions of it over the weekend, citing national interest.
Even fellow Republicans have rebuked the president’s approach. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina condemned the administration’s apparent capitulation, posting on X: “Beyond irresponsible. What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand? It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day.”
The controversy highlights a fundamental tension in Trump’s foreign policy: his desire to lower U.S. energy prices is increasingly at odds with meaningful support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia. Whether Bessent’s warning to Zelenskyy will dampen his public criticism or merely push it behind closed doors remains to be seen.
Source: CNBC
If the administration can deny something its own satellite provider says it controls, what does accountability even mean in wartime?
