Politics · United Kingdom · 2 hrs ago
Streeting urges US to stand by Ukraine after Starlink disruption
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting urged the US to stand by Ukraine during a visit to Washington.
The appeal followed a sudden US move to limit Ukraine’s military use of Starlink, a satellite communications system used by its forces.
Streeting said his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, had reassured him that access was restored, but the UK did not yet know why the disruption happened.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had said he felt betrayed by Donald Trump, and Ukrainian officials said the US had also threatened to stop sharing intelligence if Ukraine did not halt attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Streeting argued that supporting Ukraine also serves US interests, because allowing borders to be changed by force could have wider consequences.
He also pointed to possible US and UK defence-industry ties, while the two officials were expected to discuss US military bases in Britain and aid for Saudi Arabia.
Wes Streeting urged the United States to stand by Ukraine during his first visit to Washington.
The British defence secretary argued that supporting Ukraine would serve US interests and strengthen its security and defence industry.
His appeal came amid tensions over US restrictions on Ukraine’s access to satellite communications systems.
Streeting said his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, had reassured him that access to Starlink had been restored.
The sources differ on the satellite system affected, referring to Starlink and Starshield.
- Who
- Wes Streeting, the UK defence secretary, urged the US to support Ukraine.
- What
- He called on the US to stand by Ukraine amid tensions over restrictions on satellite communications access.
- When
- 15 October 2026.
- Where
- Washington, DC.
- Why
- Streeting said support for Ukraine would serve US interests and contribute to its security and defence industry.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The US government limited Ukraine’s military use of Starlink, according to the Guardian.
UK prime minister Andy Burnham met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London and said the UK would stand by Ukraine.
Streeting spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington before meeting Pete Hegseth.
Streeting told the BBC that Hegseth had reassured him that access to Starlink had been restored.
- UK defence secretary
- Wes Streeting
- US counterpart
- Pete Hegseth
- Visit location
- Washington, DC
- Speech venue
- Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Guardian publication time
- 23:49 UTC, 15 October 2026
- Daily Mail publication time
- 22:45 BST, 15 October 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
There’s rarely been a more important time for Britain and America to come together.
a free people have a right to determine their own destiny
Standing with Ukraine is not a choice between values and self-interest; ultimately they are inseparable.
The US will find in the years and decades to come that Ukraine will contribute a hell of a lot towards American strength, both in terms of its military strength and its defence industrial base, too.