Mumbai, India — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that neither President Donald Trump nor the US government directed SpaceX to restrict Starlink services used by Ukraine, rejecting reports suggesting Washington had ordered changes to the satellite internet system. Speaking to reporters at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, Rubio distinguished between Starlink, a commercial satellite internet service, and Starshield, a separate defense product operated through the US Department of War.
Rubio said he was not aware of any advance knowledge of the reported decision to restrict Starlink services. He maintained that the system’s use and operating terms are governed by a private commercial contract.
“The President of the United States nor anyone in our system ever requested that any changes to that system be made,” Rubio said. He also rejected claims that Washington had deliberately withheld essential support from Ukraine, arguing that the United States had provided billions of dollars in assistance since the Biden administration and continued to support the country under Trump.
Rubio praised Ukrainian forces for their resistance against Russia but said the Trump administration’s priority was ending the war. He described the dispute over territory in the Donbas region as a central obstacle to a peace agreement.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and was expected to travel to St. Petersburg to discuss potential proposals with Russian officials, Rubio said. He described the negotiations as difficult and said any settlement would require compromises from both sides, while Ukraine remained focused on long-term security guarantees.
Addressing reports of diplomatic efforts by Qatar and Pakistan to bring the United States and Iran back to negotiations, Rubio welcomed mediation initiatives but stressed that any agreement must prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He also confirmed that Russia had been invited to participate in G20 meetings, following a decision by Trump. Rubio said he did not know whether Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would personally attend the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, although he expected Russia to be represented.
Asked about opposition and student protests in India and criticism from United Nations experts over the government’s response, Rubio declined to comment on India’s domestic political affairs. He described protests and public political expression as features of political discourse, while distinguishing peaceful demonstrations from riots and violence. He said such internal matters were for the Indian people to decide.
Rubio also discussed his planned meeting with Reliance Industries, one of India’s major energy companies. He said the discussions would provide an opportunity to examine the company’s global operations and identify potential areas of cooperation, including energy and investment. He noted that Reliance has substantial refining capacity and can process heavy crude oil produced in the Western Hemisphere, including Venezuelan crude.
Separately, Rubio defended a recent State Department reminder to employees about ethics, gifts and professional conduct. He said the message had been scheduled weeks before reports concerning US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle emerged and was not specifically directed at her.
Rubio emphasized that US diplomats must act in the interests of the American people and uphold high ethical standards, warning that perceived personal interests could undermine the country’s diplomatic credibility. He also reiterated that the United States continued to seek the release of Stephen Hubbard, whom he said Washington had consistently asked Russia to release as soon as possible.
