Latest Ukraine-Russia war: Zelensky challenges SpaceX over Starshield as US raises Donbass proposal

US negotiators asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from the eastern Donbass region in exchange for joining NATO, President Zelensky said.

“The Americans asked the question: ‘What if Ukraine joined NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?’ This was the first time this issue was raised,” Zelensky told reporters on Saturday.

He insisted that kyiv was not ready to cede its territory, but said he would put the issue to a national referendum if Ukraine received a comprehensive package of security measures, including firm guarantees, a strong and properly financed army and money for reconstruction.

Zelensky said the proposal meant NATO membership was “back on the agenda”, but acknowledged it would be difficult to reach a deal given Vladimir Putin’s opposition to Ukraine joining the alliance.

Volodymyr Zelensky has accused SpaceX of maintaining speed restrictions on Starshield, its military-oriented satellite communications system, saying they leave Ukrainian forces less able to intercept Russian drones.

The restrictions have been in effect for five days, with terminals in Russian-occupied territory capped at 161 km/h, he said.

“We don’t think that’s the case,” Zelensky told reporters Saturday, rejecting SpaceX’s explanation that the problem was technical.

He also warned that restricting service in the occupied territories amounted to partially recognizing these areas as no longer Ukrainian. “If you impose restrictions on it, you are already partially recognizing the temporarily occupied territories as not ours,” he said.

Ukraine’s envoy to Washington, Denys Sienik, told RFE that restrictions were widespread. SpaceX has denied making any changes to its service.