NEW YORK, October 28. /TASS/. Discussions on strengthening defense capabilities have gained renewed momentum in the European Union following slowdowns in the operation of the Starlink satellite system in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.

According to the sources, one of the central topics at the latest EU summit on October 15-16 was the slowdown in Starlink services and the resulting new public dispute between Vladimir Zelensky and US President Donald Trump. European officials discussed the need to bolster their own capabilities, reduce dependence on the United States, and diversify suppliers of "critical technologies."

However, a Bloomberg source stressed that such changes would take years. The most realistic solution under the circumstances is to strengthen Europe’s role within existing structures, such as NATO, the agency added.

Last week, Kiev said that US company SpaceX had restricted the operation of Starlink terminals used by the Ukrainian armed forces, disrupting several Ukrainian military operations. SpaceX founder and entrepreneur Elon Musk, for his part, stated that the Starlink satellite system is not used for offensive military operations but only for defense and civilian purposes. He also said that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government and that any restrictions are imposed by the US military and ultimately by the US president. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal claimed that Musk himself had ordered restrictions on Ukraine’s access to Starshield.

On October 22, Trump announced that Ukraine’s access to the military-grade Starshield satellite communications system had been restored. However, he declined to answer a question about who had issued the order.