Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, and that restoring access to Starlink and Starshield services was one of the items discussed. Zelensky said the call took place early that morning while he was travelling by train to Oslo, Norway, where he met Norwegian, Finnish, European, NATO and US officials later the same day.
Key facts
- Rubio confirmed the call publicly and said it lasted 45 minutes, according to National Security Journal, which also reported that Rubio told Fox News rumours of a shift in US policy on Ukraine were untrue.
- In a Telegram post reported by Ukrinform, Ukraine’s state news agency, Zelensky said the conversation focused primarily on ballistic missile interceptors and on early warning of Russian ballistic missile attacks, and that the two also discussed restoring access to Starlink/Starshield services.
- Speaking to reporters in Oslo, Zelensky said he and Rubio had talked about “sensitive issues like connection, Starlink,” about interceptors and about intelligence, according to a report carried by Europesays.
- That report describes Starshield as satellite internet services powered by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite company, and authorized by the US government.
- Zelensky said he and Rubio agreed to speak again soon to exchange updates, per Ukrinform.
Why it matters
Starlink and Starshield are the connectivity Ukraine’s military has relied on, and the dispute over whether that service was deliberately degraded has now moved from public finger-pointing into direct contact between Kyiv and the US State Department. The same call also covered missile warning and interceptors, which places a satellite internet service inside a negotiation about Ukraine’s physical air defence.
For readers outside Ukraine, the episode is a reminder of something the sources state plainly: Starshield operates with US government authorisation, so service decisions sit with governments as well as with SpaceX.
What Zelensky said
“I spoke with Marco Rubio, and it was a substantive conversation about issues that matter,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram, in the post reported by Ukrinform. He said he was grateful for Rubio’s readiness to help and his clear position, thanked him for a constructive approach, and added that the talks were taking place against the backdrop of Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts to end the war.
In Oslo, Zelensky described the signals from the American side as positive, according to the Europesays report.
The Oslo summit and the proposal for Russia
The Europesays report says Tuesday’s talks centred on points in a proposal to be presented to Russia the following day, setting out a framework for peace with Ukraine, security guarantees and a broader European security architecture that could involve Ukraine joining the EU, plus post-war financial recovery plans. It cites US officials and participating leaders.
Zelensky met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European and NATO officials and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, the report says, and said he had received assurances of “strong” security guarantees that Witkoff would put to Russian negotiators in a document on Wednesday. US special envoy Jared Kushner joined remotely and was to take part in the Russia talks virtually.
One US official quoted in the report said Ukraine brought forward new ideas and proposals and that the parties made meaningful progress on a coordinated approach to engaging Russia.
Background: the Starshield slowdown dispute
According to the Europesays report, Trump’s relationship with Zelensky hit another low point after Ukraine experienced interruptions in Starshield, prompting a round of finger-pointing in Washington over responsibility. Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials claimed their access appeared to be throttled above speeds of 100 miles per hour, which they said prevented their military from carrying out drone operations. Zelensky has previously given the figure in metric terms, saying the connection cuts out above roughly 130 to 161 km/h on the front line.
Trump, administration officials and Musk have all denied a deliberate slowdown and denied any disruption in US intelligence sharing with Kyiv, the report says; Musk, Trump and Rubio have all denied a cap in earlier statements. Rubio told reporters on Tuesday that the absence of advance warning of Russian strikes was not the result of any US directive, and that the same warnings are being provided now as always.
Ukrainian accounts differ. National Security Journal cites an October 20 investigation by the Kyiv Post, a Ukrainian newspaper, reporting that at least six Ukrainian civilians were killed and 21 injured in ballistic missile attacks between 12 and 19 October, a period in which Ukrainian defence authorities say they stopped receiving timely warnings of incoming strikes. Witnesses said they received no air raid warning before one missile struck. The gap between those accounts is part of what has drawn US lawmakers demanding an investigation.
Trump’s position
Trump said on Tuesday that it was time to reach a deal, according to the Europesays report. He said the United States had given Ukraine incredible amounts of equipment, primarily military, and had received nothing back except grief, death and monetary loss, and said American taxpayers were tired of it. He added that Zelensky could have made a better deal two years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Zelensky also speak to US lawmakers about these issues?
Ukrinform, Ukraine’s state news agency, reported that on the day before the Rubio call Zelensky held an online meeting with a bipartisan delegation from the US Senate and House of Representatives. Ukrinform did not say what was discussed in that meeting.
Is the energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine still in place?
No. According to the report carried by Europesays, the energy ceasefire Trump announced between Putin and Zelensky is already broken, and Zelensky has resumed striking Russian oil refineries in retaliation for Russian attacks. Zelensky posted on X that Ukraine is ready not to hit sensitive parts of Russia’s energy sector if Russia stops hitting Ukraine’s, but said Putin refused.
Has Trump floated any talks that would exclude Ukraine?
Yes. The report carried by Europesays says Trump suggested a three-way meeting involving Russia, the United States and China, excluding Ukraine. Zelensky separately called for a trilateral leaders’ meeting to settle issues that, he said, only leaders can resolve.
Is anything else on the agenda for the US-Russia talks?
A US official told the outlet whose report Europesays carried that envoy Steve Witkoff will also seek the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old American citizen held in a Moscow prison. The official described the wider discussions as fluid, with substantial work remaining.
Follow Starlink News on Google. Make us a preferred source to see more of our reporting in Google search results.
