Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump claims Kyiv’s Starlink access has been restored but bats away Musk question

US president Donald Trump claims SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's Starlink access, even as Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian sources said there had been no change in satellite internet speeds.Trump refused to confirm reports that he had called Musk to ask him to restore the service for Ukraine's military, saying: "I ​don't want to comment ⁠on it, whether I called or whether somebody else called ... The bottom line - ‌he put it back."Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president warned that Russian president Vladimir Putin now believes his maximalist war goals – which include capturing four Ukrainian regions in their entirety – are within reach.“Russia is clearly taking advantage of the slowdown in air defence supplies from our partners,” Zelensky wrote in a post on X on Thursday.“It is equally clear that when some partners ease the pressure on Russia, it only reinforces Putin's belief that his goals are within reach. We need different signals and different steps – stronger ones.”Speaking a day after meeting Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, Putin insisted that Russia was not preparing for war with Europe and that trilateral talks should be about ensuring the future security of both countries. Russia and Ukraine exchange war deadRussian and Ukraine held an exchange of war dead, with Moscow handing over 252 bodies and Ukraine handing over 25, according to the Belta state news agency in neighbouring Belarus. Such exchanges have accompanied moves towards talks in the past. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky answers media questions before his meeting with Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo in Kyiv, Ukraine, (AP)Namita Singh23 October 2026 06:00Breaking: Russian strike hits Ukrainian power stationUkraine’s energy company DTEK says that a Russian attack has hit one of its power stations. We'll bring you more information on this as we have it. Namita Singh23 October 2026 05:47Starlink access to Ukraine 'restored', claims Trump US president Donald Trump said SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had restored Ukraine's Starlink access, one of the issues linked to a rift between Washington and Kyiv that has cast doubt on ⁠US support for Ukraine.Trump, in comments on Starlink, declined to ⁠say whether he had spoken to Musk about restoring the service for Ukraine.Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had called Musk and asked him to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use."I ​don't want to comment ⁠on it, whether I called or whether somebody else called ... The bottom line - ‌he put it back," Trump told reporters.US president Donald Trump points as he speaks during a Republican campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, US, 22 October 2026 (Reuters)Ukraine uses Starlink for battlefield communications and drone operations. Restricting the service hampered the country's attack and air defence drone missions against Russia.Speaking earlier alongside Finland's prime minister, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said speed on Starlink systems had not been restored for Ukraine."We are tackling that," Zelensky said, adding he hoped to discuss the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.A person familiar with the Starlink issue ‌said the problem was continuing, with the same curbs largely remaining in place.Some drone units report reaching speeds of 200kmph (125mph) with drones but otherwise the picture was unchanged, he said. “The main problem is that we have no official explanation what's going on," he said. Namita Singh23 October 2026 05:00Prepare for ‘state-sponsored terrorism’ and cyber attacks to cause food shortages, Streeting warnsBritons should prepare for food shortages if “state-sponsored terrorism” disrupts everyday life, the defence secretary has said in a stark new warning on the “real” threats facing the UK.People need to start to stockpile food, water, medicine and wind-up radios, Wes Streeting said, raising the spectre of hostile powers launching cyber attacks on key infrastructure.Such attacks could wreck supply chains or make businesses’ payment systems fail, he said, while natural risks such as flooding and wildfires also pose a threat.Maira Butt23 October 2026 04:00Zelensky says he will speak to Rubio in coming daysVolodymyr Zelensky has said that he will speak to secretary of state Marco Rubio in the coming days. Tensions have escalated between Ukraine and the US after a series of public comments. Ukraine had reported having its US-assisted military intelligence restricted, claims that Rubio had called “scandalous”.US-brokered trilateral agreements are reportedly set to take place in order to rekindle negotiations, which have stalled since the war in Iran. (AFP/Getty)Maira Butt23 October 2026 03:00Trump declines to say if he spoke to Musk about StarlinkDonald Trump has said that Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's Starlink access but declined to comment when asked whether he had spoken to the billionaire about the matter.The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Thursday that Trump had called Musk and asked him to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Starlink.“I don't want to comment on it, whether I called or whether somebody else called, doesn't make any difference, I guess. The bottom line - he put it back,” Trump told reporters when asked if he spoke to Musk. Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier on Thursday that fully function of SpaceX’s military-grade system had not been restored. Maira Butt23 October 2026 02:00Finnish PM says no gas deals should be made with Russia during war Finland's prime minister Petteri Orpo has said that no deals should be made to buy gas from Russia during the country’s war with Ukraine, in comments made on Thursday. The leader was visiting Kyiv for talks with Volodymyr Zelensky. They told a joint press conference that they had discussed opportunities to cooperate on satellite communication, energy and logistics. Finland stopped receiving Russian pipeline gas in May 2022 after refusing Russia's demand to pay in roubles, and completely ended Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports in July 2024 under EU sanctions.Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo deliver a joint-press conference following the Ukrainian-Finnish Business Forum in Kyiv on October 22, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP/Getty)Maira Butt23 October 2026 01:00Watch: Russian attack damages shopping center and residential buildings in Ukraine’s Rivne regionRussian attack damages shopping center and residential buildings in Ukraine’s Rivne regionMaira Butt23 October 2026 00:01Trump says Musk restored Ukraine's Starlink access, declines to say if they spokePresident Donald Trump on Thursday told reporters that Elon Musk had restored Ukraine's Starlink access but declined to comment when asked whether he had spoken to Musk about the matter.However, Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that full functionality of SpaceX’s Starshield programme had not yet been restored in an interview with CNN. Maira Butt22 October 2026 23:00Downing Street rejects American description of Vladimir Putin as ‘humanitarian’Downing Street has rejected the characterisation of Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” made by Donald Trump’s chief negotiator on the Ukraine war.Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, made the remark as he met with the Russian leader this week.It comes as the US president has made a new push to end the Ukraine war, and is putting pressure on Kyiv to agree to a settlement.No 10 suggested the Government was wholly at odds with the description of Mr Putin.Asked about it by reporters, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “We certainly do not recognise that characterisation, and president Putin has killed thousands of people, both innocent Ukrainians and his own Russian people, who he has sent to their deaths on the frontline.”Read the full story here. Daniel Keane22 October 2026 22:00