Ukraine hasn't been able to use its interceptor systems against Russian drone attacks as a result of an ongoing Starlink issue.
After paying the United States to use their Starlink system in the war with Russia, a speed restriction issue has meant Ukraine is unable to use the technology.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed to reporters that the only reason for this speed restriction would be if the US military and President Donald Trump set them.
However, Ukrainian officials had been told the restrictions were linked to technical issues.
President Zelenskyy countered this claim by saying Ukraine had tested the system on a European Union territory and didn't encounter the same issues.
Speaking on The Pat Kenny Show, France 24's Emmanuelle Chaze explained that the use of the Starlink system was a financial transaction between Ukraine and the US, and claimed the US isn't respecting those contracts.
She shared: "Well, I think what it shows first is that the US right now is not respecting even the contracts it has signed with Ukraine. And the answer is that they haven't done anything. Elon Musk had actually said that any decision regarding Starshield were decisions to be made by the White House and the US military.
"On the Ukrainian side, of course, the hope is that Starshield will be reactivated. But in the meantime, Volodymyr Zelenskyy also highlighted the fact that EU allies are also trying to develop its satellite systems equivalent to Starlink and Starshield so as to wean Ukraine off its dependency on intelligence they can gather through Starshield and also reliance on Starshield along the front line and for interception purposes.
"Ukrainians also realise that, you know, they had a more transactional relationship with Washington since the beginning of Trump's mandate.
"But even that and the terms of those transactions doesn't seem to be respected anymore.
"So Ukrainians right now, they're more counting on their other allies, EU allies, Canada, for example, Great Britain. But they are not counting on the American ally as much anymore."
Tensions had been high between Presidents Zelenskyy and Trump since their meeting in Washington DC in early 2025.
Zelenskyy was also highly critical of Trump's recent deal for diesel with Russia, and the US President recently signed an executive order pausing a slew of restrictions targeting the Russian economy.
Main image: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens to US President Donald Trump during a very tense bilateral meeting at the Oval Office of the White House, February 28, 2025 Pic: Pool Photo/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/Alamy Live News
