Burnham presses Trump on Ukraine's Starlink access in phone call
The Prime Minister raised Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite communications system directly with US President Donald Trump, Downing Street has said, as relations between Washington and Kyiv deteriorate.
The Prime Minister has raised Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite communications system directly with US President Donald Trump in a phone call, Downing Street has said, pressing the case for Kyiv to be given the best possible chance to defend itself.
The intervention places the future of Elon Musk's satellite network at the centre of a widening diplomatic rift, after restrictions were placed on Ukraine's use of the system. Downing Street confirmed the call, saying the Prime Minister stressed the need for Ukraine to retain full access to the service as it continues to fight against Vladimir Putin's invasion.
Starlink has become a critical piece of Ukraine's military infrastructure since the early months of the war, providing battlefield communications and connectivity that Ukrainian forces rely on for coordination. Any limitation on its use therefore carries direct consequences for Kyiv's ability to operate, and the decision to raise the matter at leader level reflects concern in London about the direction of US policy.
The call comes amid deteriorating relations between the White House and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The shift in Washington's posture has unsettled European allies, who have watched the Trump administration's approach to the conflict with growing unease. By speaking directly to the US president, the Prime Minister is seeking to keep the question of Ukraine's defensive capacity on the agenda at the highest level.
The move also carries domestic political risk. The Prime Minister is exposed to a potential clash with Trump over Ukraine's access to the satellite system, a dispute that pits a vital military asset against the volatile relationship between Washington and its European partners. Downing Street's account of the call was carefully framed around Ukraine's ability to defend itself, rather than around criticism of the US decision.
The restrictions on Starlink use follow a period of friction over the system's role in the war. Musk's network has been the subject of repeated political controversy, and its dependence on decisions made outside Kyiv gives foreign capitals leverage over Ukraine's communications on the battlefield. That vulnerability is precisely what the Prime Minister sought to address in the conversation.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister used the call to emphasise the importance of Ukraine having the best chance to defend itself. The statement did not indicate whether Trump offered any assurances, and there was no immediate public response from the White House on the substance of the discussion.
The exchange underscores how the war in Ukraine has become entangled with the wider transatlantic relationship. European leaders have been seeking to shore up support for Kyiv as US engagement shifts, and the Starlink question now sits alongside questions of military aid and sanctions as a test of Western resolve. For the Prime Minister, the call represents an early and direct attempt to influence Washington's handling of a conflict that remains central to European security.
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