- Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke directly with US President Donald Trump via telephone Friday and emphasized the critical need for Ukraine to maintain full, unrestricted access to the Starlink satellite system to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said speed caps on Starlink remain active, contradicting statements from Donald Trump asserting that the satellite network's full service had been restored.
- The diplomatic intervention follows a period of mounting strain between Washington and Kyiv, exacerbated by the US easing sanctions on Russian diesel and controversial comments from White House aides regarding Vladimir Putin.
- Zelensky said that technical-level peace negotiations between representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are planned for early November in Abu Dhabi, aiming to pave the way for a future summit of world leaders.
- Kyiv has maintained that any potential peace agreement must incorporate comprehensive security guarantees, sustained ten-year funding for the Ukrainian military, and direct European participation in peace talks.
IN FULL
Burnham presses Trump on Ukraine’s Starlink access in phone call
