Canada's Carney Questions Decision Behind Ukraine Satellite Curb

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday that restricting Ukraine's use of the Starshield satellite network costs lives, and he questioned the judgment of whoever authorized the limits. Speaking in Istanbul, Carney said: "I search for the right adjective to describe whoever took this decision, or a group of people took this decision, against a country … that is literally fighting for the lives of its citizens against naked aggression." He added, "So are we concerned? Yes, we are concerned."

Ukrainian officials reported early last week that they had lost part of their access to Starshield, the military variant of the Starlink system operated by SpaceX. Ukraine relies on Starshield to detect incoming missiles and jet-powered drones, and to guide interceptor and spy drones; Starlink carries internal communications. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that since the restrictions took hold, Kyiv has been unable to track drones and missiles moving faster than 160 kilometres per hour, which he says has complicated the defence against Russian attacks and led to civilian deaths, including children.

Who ordered the change is still disputed. Reuters reported last week, citing two U.S. officials, that the instruction originated inside the White House. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Elon Musk issued it himself. Musk has said Starshield belongs to and is run by the U.S. government, that the military and ultimately President Donald Trump set limits on its use, and that commercial Starlink was never built or cleared for military tasks. Trump has denied ordering the restrictions. On Friday he said he does not know who did and would not say even if he did.

Carney said he agrees with Zelenskyy's assessment, saying it "does seem clear" the limits carry "real consequences, human consequences" and that some recent deaths count as "direct casualties as a consequence of this reduced ability." He cited an attack in central Kyiv from the previous 36 hours as a strike on citizens with no military or quasi-military target, and "immense human suffering."

Trump said on Thursday that Musk had restored Ukraine's access. Zelenskyy pushed back in a CNN interview, saying "it still doesn't work." Ukrainian military officials also said on Friday the limits remain. The episode arrives at a low point in Kyiv and Washington's relationship as Trump presses Ukraine to accept more concessions in a peace deal, and to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, though Starshield does not operate over Russian territory.

Carney, without naming Trump, said depending on an ally "that may change their view" puts Canadians at risk, and that Canada is "highly, highly reliant on certain systems in certain countries." Zelenskyy signed a letter of intent on Thursday with Finland's Nokia and ICEYE to develop a Ukrainian satellite communications network.

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