Andy Burnham tells Donald Trump in transatlantic phone call that Ukraine must have full Starlink access - after Elon Musk 'ordered slowdown'

Andy Burnham has told Donald Trump that Ukraine must have 'full access' to Starlink amid claims Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of the crucial satellite service.

Ukraine relies on Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications system to help intercept Russian missile and drone attacks, but faced speed limits last week that significantly curtailed its ability to do so.

Tensions have been brewing between Washington and Kyiv as the slowdown left Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian attacks.

Mr Musk, who owns Starlink via his SpaceX firm, claimed that any limits on the speed or usage of Starlink services are decided by the US military and ultimately Mr Trump.

But the US President himself has said he didn't know who was responsible for the Starlink slowdown and 'would like to find out'.

In a phone call with the US President on Friday, the Prime Minister urged the necessity of Starlink for Ukraine.

In a readout of a conversation between the UK and US leaders on Friday, a No 10 spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister underlined the importance for Ukraine to have full access to Starlink so they can continue to defend themselves against Russia's full-scale invasion.

'The Prime Minister recognised the work of President Trump to bring Putin to the negotiation table and the leaders agreed to work together, alongside international partners, to bring an end to the bloodshed.'

Kyiv claimed a speed limit introduced on some Starlink services had left it with little or no warning of Russian attacks.

Furious Ukrainians accused either Mr Trump or Mr Musk of having 'blood on their hands' over the decision, with multiple casualties attributed to the cutting of services.

Mr Burnham was quizzed about the row in the wake of reports that Mr Musk approached Mr Trump with the idea of slowing down Starlink in Ukraine.

The US President is claimed to have then 'agreed' with Mr Musk's suggestion.  

Mr Burnham has said Britain is working to 'bring back all sides' behind Ukraine after a week of turmoil following the US President's decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel in a bid to cut fuel prices before challenging mid-term elections.

Since then, Mr Trump has suggested Mr Zelensky should be replaced and declined to say whether Russia was responsible for the war, while White House aide Steve Witkoff described Vladimir Putin as a 'humanitarian'.

Downing Street flatly rejected the US envoy's characterisation of the Russian president on Thursday, adding: 'President Putin has killed thousands of people, both innocent Ukrainians and his own Russian people, who he has sent to their deaths on the front line.

'He is starving children and the elderly of the heat and warmth, and systematically targeting critical national infrastructure.

'Ukraine's foreign minister summed it up well this morning when he said: "This night, the residents of Kyiv heard what Russian humanitarianism really sounds like".'

Asked if the Government would be making the same argument directly to the US administration, No 10 said 'we engage regularly at a range of levels with a range of partners on Ukraine, and I'm sure we will continue to do so.'