Bessent calls Zelenskyy’s Starlink accusation ‘reckless’ amid strains over U.S. support

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday for suggesting Washington was behind slower Starlink service, while repeatedly declining to directly say whether Ukraine remains a U.S. ally. Speaking on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Bessent defended the administration’s assistance to Kyiv and President Donald Trump’s pursuit of a negotiated end to the war.

For investors, the dispute highlights uncertainty surrounding U.S. support for Ukraine and restrictions on Russian energy exports. Changes in sanctions enforcement, diesel supplies and attacks on Russian refineries could affect energy prices, while shifts in military assistance could influence demand for weapons and air-defense systems. The interviews offered competing accounts of U.S. policy, leaving the direction and timing of further changes unclear.

Zelenskyy, appearing earlier on the program, said reduced Starlink speeds had hampered Ukraine’s defenses against drones and suggested the restrictions conveyed a message from Washington. He also said U.S. intelligence sharing had been interrupted. Trump denied withholding certain intelligence, and Starlink service subsequently returned to normal speed, according to NBC News.

“President Trump and Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio have categorically said that no one in the Trump administration did that, and I think it is very reckless for President Zelenskyy to make such a charge,” Bessent said.

Starlink is SpaceX’s (SPCX) satellite internet network, using satellites in low Earth orbit to deliver broadband service, including in areas with limited or damaged communications infrastructure. Starshield builds on Starlink technology for government and national security missions, providing enhanced security for communications and supporting Earth observation and specialized satellite payloads, according to SpaceX (SPCX).

Pressed about Ukraine’s status as an ally, Bessent pointed to U.S. intelligence, Starlink support and arrangements allowing NATO to purchase American weapons for Ukraine.

“We provide the three different things ... to Ukraine, so that’s what you do for an ally. We’re not providing those to Russia,” he said when asked a second time. On the third attempt, he responded: “I’m not the secretary of state. I’m not the president.”

Bessent also challenged European governments to contribute more air defenses.

“When President Zelenskyy asked for Patriots [missile systems], NATO, the European members of NATO, they have plenty of Patriots. Why aren’t they forthcoming with the Patriots?” he said.

The disagreement followed an attempted halt to attacks on energy infrastructure that Trump said both countries had accepted. Ukraine suspended strikes for several days, but Zelenskyy accused Russia of continuing its attacks. Ukrainian forces later resumed targeting Russian oil refineries. In his interview, Zelenskyy warned that Washington would make a historic mistake by siding with Moscow, while expressing hope that Trump would reconsider his decisions.

Russian energy restrictions were another point of contention. NBC News reported that Trump announced Friday he would waive certain recently approved sanctions, following an earlier decision to permit substantial Russian diesel sales. Bessent disputed the characterization that Trump had lifted sanctions, describing a 60-day pause “so we can examine what’s going on.” He added: “The only thing that has been lifted is the diesel embargo.”

Bessent closed by rejecting Zelenskyy’s framing of the conflict and emphasizing negotiations.

“President Trump has made it clear that he wants to end this war; that it must stop. And President Zelenskyy presented a false binary this morning that Ukraine must win,” Bessent said. “The war must end, and that will be with some kind of a negotiated settlement. And President Trump is working on that every day.”

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