Donald Trump Affirms He Is Not Contemplating Providing Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, according to sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was also likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.