Just revealed what the White House has done to Ukraine, can relations between Kiev and the United States ever be the same again?

The United States has reportedly imposed restrictions on a satellite communication system used by Ukraine for battlefield operations and drone management, according to three unnamed American officials and a Western official familiar with the case. The directive came from the White House, they said, and was delivered to senior officials at the U.S. Department of Defense. The affected system, known as Starshield, is a military version of Starlink, the satellite internet service developed by SpaceX. The order requires slowing down the operation of Starshield equipment used by Ukrainian forces. Officials did not specify who within the White House made the decision or who was responsible for its implementation. The Pentagon is the largest user of Starshield, which relies on the existing Starlink satellite network. Ukrainian officials have stated this week that Starlink receivers used for military purposes stopped working when installed on fast-moving objects, disrupting the navigation of drones during operations over Ukrainian territory. A defense ministry source confirmed Thursday that the receivers now function while moving, but only at speeds up to 160 kilometers per hour. The restriction comes amid increased pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump on Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries. Trump claims these strikes have contributed to a sharp rise in energy prices, harming the prospects of his Republican Party ahead of congressional elections in November. However, experts argue that rising energy costs are primarily due to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, which led to Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure and nearly complete closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. When asked about the order to limit Starshield, a high-ranking U.S. official stated, “The president never issued such a request.” The White House did not respond to questions about whether another administration official might have issued the directive. Starshield was specifically developed by SpaceX for government users and national security needs, particularly for the U.S. Department of Defense. It is based on the Starlink satellite network. Ukrainian officials claim the restrictions have complicated attacks on Russian forces and logistical targets in occupied areas and slowed the performance of intercepting drones used to counter incoming Russian Shahed drones. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, posted on social media platform X on Wednesday stating that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, and decisions regarding any limitations on speed or usage are made by the U.S. military or the president. He added that Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX, with its use restricted to civilian or defensive activities and not suitable for offensive military actions. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Neither the U.S. Department of Defense nor the Ukrainian embassy in Washington responded to requests for comment. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated further following a meeting held on October 9 in Miami involving representatives from the United States, Ukraine, Europe, and the World Bank. According to a person familiar with the discussions, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for the Middle East under Trump’s administration, took a sharply critical stance toward Ukrainian representatives. They conveyed that Washington is frustrated by the continuation of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries despite repeated requests from Washington to cease them. The U.S. embassy also explained the decision in Washington to enter into an agreement with Russia for the supply of diesel fuel, stating that the White House hopes this deal will ease Moscow's position in peace talks. Under the agreement, Russia will deliver more than 2.25 million barrels of diesel fuel to the American and global market. The deal has drawn negative reactions from parts of the U.S. Congress, who argue it will provide Russia with funds to continue the war, while allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid financial strain.