Lauge Risom Koch 
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned at the Dublin summit that neither Ukraine nor Europe can defend itself without Starshield satellites, pledging to raise recent disruptions with US officials.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed serious concern over Starshield satellite disruptions affecting Ukrainian forces and confirmed she will raise the issue with US officials. Speaking at the European Political Community summit in Dublin on November 12, as reported by United24 Media, Frederiksen warned that neither Ukraine nor Europe can defend its citizens without access to the satellite network.
Her remarks followed a report earlier that day from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stated that Ukrainian units had recorded significant Starshield outages for several days. According to Zelenskyy, the disruptions occurred along the entire frontline as well as in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory.
“I am deeply concerned about this. Everyone knows, including the Americans, that Ukraine and Europe are simply not able to defend their citizens and Europe without these satellites,” Frederiksen told reporters during morning arrivals in Dublin.
Satellite access tied to European deterrence
Asked whether she planned to address the disruptions with US officials at the summit, Frederiksen confirmed that she would. She framed uninterrupted satellite connectivity as a core pillar of regional security, stating that the system is “part of the defense of Europe” and essential to deterrence toward Russia.
Frederiksen identified three capabilities required to prevail in modern warfare: air defense, satellite communications, and the ability to strike enemy forces beyond national borders. “If you don’t have air defense, if you don’t have satellites, and if you don’t have the ability to cross your own border and attack the enemy, then you cannot win,” she stated.
The ninth European Political Community summit brought leaders from across the continent to Dublin on November 12, with arrivals and doorstep statements beginning at 9:45 a.m. local time. The summit agenda focused on building a stronger and more secure Europe, including talks on defense and regional security.
Prior SpaceX restrictions on Ukrainian operations
The multi-day outages follow earlier reports of operational limits placed on the military-grade satellite network by SpaceX. According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by United24 Media, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had previously personally ordered restrictions on Starshield.
Speed limits implemented on October 14 disrupted Ukrainian drone operations and impaired aerial interceptors used in air defense. Those technical constraints directly affected how Ukrainian units coordinate unmanned systems and counter incoming aerial threats.
With Ukrainian drone operations and air defense interceptors reliant on continuous satellite links, the renewed disruptions prompted immediate diplomatic attention in Dublin. Frederiksen’s warning underscores European concerns that degraded Starshield access weakens both Ukrainian battlefield operations and Europe’s broader deterrence posture.
