Donald Trump Says He Isn't Contemplating Providing Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously planning providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.