Rubio Takes Questions in Mumbai: U.S. Never Asked Starlink to Slow Ukraine Service; Witkoff to Carry Proposal to Putin

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took questions from traveling reporters on October 21 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India, and the State Department's Office of the Spokesperson released the full transcript the same day. Rubio is on a two-day visit to India that includes talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, events in Mumbai and a stop in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The exchange covered Ukraine, the Group of 20 and personnel matters.

Asked about reports that SpaceX chief Elon Musk had ordered throttling of the Starlink system used by Ukraine, Rubio said: "What I can tell you with certainty is the president of the United States, nor anyone in our system, ever requested that any changes to that system be made." He said the service is governed by a private commercial contract, adding, "We cannot direct a private company as to the decisions they make or do not make," and that he was not aware of the decision beforehand; the United States would continue to engage on the matter. Musk said last week that the systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government and that any limits are decided by the U.S. military or the president, a position at odds with Rubio's account. GSM previously reported that Ukrainian officials said in mid-October that Starlink terminals in service were throttled overnight, and that Rep. Mike Turner then called for a congressional investigation.

On Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Rubio said U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Oslo, Norway, a day earlier had been "positive," with nothing surprising. Witkoff will now travel to St. Petersburg to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and present an updated U.S. proposal to the Russian side; the negotiations are concentrated on arrangements for the remainder of the Donbas.

Asked whether Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would attend G20 meetings, Rubio said: "Well, the Russians are invited to be a part of the G20, the president made that decision." He said Russia would be represented at the G20 summits and that Putin might attend the summit in Miami, although Washington has no confirmation.

On Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen held by Russia, Rubio said the United States has consistently asked Russia for his release and remains hopeful.

Asked about Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, who left her post amid reports of unethical conduct, Rubio did not address the individual case directly, saying the ethics reminder message is one the department sends out repeatedly to ambassadors.

Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：美国国务卿卢比奥官方肖像（2025年）。美国国务院官方照片，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。Photo: Official portrait of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2025). U.S. Department of State photo, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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