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U.S. and Ukrainian officials have told the Wall Street Journal that President Donald Trump called SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk to demand he remove restrictions on internet access in Ukraine. The officials said Trump expressed frustration that the system's speed had been limited to about 100 miles.

The officials said the internet system in Ukraine was operating more normally today following the alleged call. Vice President JD Vance separately defended Musk, saying a private company cannot be expected to wade into a war without clear direction from the U.S. government.

Reported call over speed limits

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. and Ukrainian officials said yesterday that Trump had called Musk to ask him to lift internet restrictions in Ukraine. The report was based on statements from officials who were not named.

Trump told Musk he was disappointed that the system's speed had been capped at roughly 100 miles, according to the officials. The newspaper reported that the limit had left Ukraine unable to use some attack drones and interceptor aircraft effectively against Russian strikes.

The officials said the internet system in Ukraine was working more normally today after the reported conversation. They also said Trump told aides and allies this week that he wanted to reverse the slowdown in the Starlink system that Ukrainian forces rely on to defend themselves along the front line.

Vance defends Musk on Starshield

Vice President JD Vance answered reporters' questions before traveling to Nebraska for campaign events. Vance was asked whether he backed calls from some Republicans for an investigation after Musk said the Starshield systems that Ukraine said had slowed down were under U.S. government control.

Vance defended the billionaire businessman and said responsibility for setting policy rests with the state. "Elon Musk runs a private company. Unless the U.S. government gives him clear direction on what to do, it is entirely understandable that he does not want to be caught in the middle of a war between two state actors," Vance said.

Vance said SpaceX's decision was not tied to Musk personally and should be seen within the Trump administration's broader policy toward Russia and Ukraine. On European measures against the company that helps provide internet to Ukraine, Vance said it was "quite ironic" that European countries without anything like the technologies developed by Elon at Starlink and Starshield, or the internet service technology built at SpaceX, had decided almost unanimously to launch a regulatory and licensing war against SpaceX.

Earlier reporting on the talks

The newspaper had previously reported that Trump and Musk discussed Ukraine and Starlink on the day the slowdown was made public. Vance told reporters today that Musk's decision to slow Starlink was "entirely understandable given that he does not want to walk into the middle of a war without effective direction from the U.S. government on what to do."

Key takeaways

• Unnamed U.S. and Ukrainian officials said Trump called Musk to demand removal of internet restrictions in Ukraine.
• Trump complained that the system's speed had been limited to about 100 miles, which officials said hampered attack drones and interceptor aircraft.
• Officials said internet service in Ukraine was working more normally today after the reported call.
• Vice President JD Vance said it is understandable that Musk does not want to be caught between state actors without clear U.S. government direction.