Trump States He Isn't Planning Providing Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.