Monday morning news: October 12, 2026

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Trump says Russia-Ukraine reach energy ceasefire » President Trump is still pursuing an energy cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine. He said Sunday that the two sides had agreed to stop attacking energy sites. But a White House official later told Axios Trump was referring to a potential agreement covering oil refineries.

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says his country will halt energy strikes if Russia does the same. But Ukrainian officials reported a Russian strike on a power plant in Kharkiv after Trump's remarks.

Separately, Trump defended Friday's diesel deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin:

TRUMP: He'd like to see a settlement. President Putin would like to see a settlement strongly. And look, he's, he's freeing up a lot of oil for the world, okay? That's a good thing. At, at, by the way, at a very low price

Trump says temporarily easing sanctions to let Russian diesel reach U.S. and world markets will help lower fuel prices.

A bipartisan group of senators urged him Sunday to reverse course. They argue Russian imports conflict with U.S. law and would help fund Moscow's war.

But others, like Republican Senator John Barrasso defended Trump's effort to bring down energy costs while seeking an end to the fighting.

Zelenskyy responds to Trump’s call for new president » Meantime, Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded Sunday to President Trump's call for a new Ukrainian president.

He told ABC's This Week, he would accept voters' choice, but they need security to cast ballots.

ZELENSKYY: Tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections

Trump said Saturday Ukraine needs a leader who can make a peace deal. He accused Zelenskyy of passing up opportunities to end the war and blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for higher diesel prices.

Zelenskyy’s elected term was due to end two years ago, but Ukrainian law bars presidential elections under martial law, which remains in place amid Russia’s invasion.

Trump and Bessent on Iran » Meantime, the U.S. war with Iran remains at a standstill. The U.S. hasn’t carried out major sustained attacks inside Iran since July. But President Trump says he will not declare an end to the conflict until he can be sure that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.

TRUMP:  I have to keep it that way. I don't want to, to do it in two years. We have to have a guarantee that they won't have it in the future. We could leave right now, but, uh, we have to guarantee that they can't have it in the future, and we'll get that

And Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says, says right now, rather than dropping bombs, the U.S. is wielding suffocating economic pressure.

BESSENT:  Iran now has, uh, no oil on the water. They have negative cash flow. Uh, we have cut them off. Uh, we have... We have cut off their airline service to the world

President Trump has said that the U.S. could resume major strikes after next month’s midterm elections, but says he believes the two sides will reach a deal instead.

U.S. - Saudi - Houthis » President Trump said over the weekend that the U.S. military could join Saudi strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher reports:

BENJAMIN EICHER: The Saudi-led coalition says a projectile hit a passenger terminal Sunday at the international airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, igniting a fire.

The Houthis claimed responsibility.

That followed Saturday's missile attack at the same airport. Saudi authorities say that strike killed 12 people, including an American, and wounded more than 300.

The airport remained closed Sunday, with no immediate word on casualties from the latest attack.

The coalition also reported intercepting and destroying a cruise missile near the airport.

The Houthis threatened more strikes, warning travelers and airlines to avoid most Saudi airports.

Saudi-led forces have been striking Houthi targets in Yemen. The coalition vowed a firm response to Saturday's attack.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

U.S. Hurricane aftermath » Gulf Coast families are clearing wreckage after Hurricane Isaias tore a deadly path through Florida and Alabama.

Authorities have linked at least four deaths to the storm as it ripped roofs off buildings and sent trees crashing onto homes. Two people were killed by falling trees.

One homeowner in Pensacola, Florida described the sound:

AUDIO: Wind here was just like, like a freight train or a locomotive. It was so loud.

But Florida Congressman and Republican nominee for governor Byron Donalds said the storm is once again bringing out the best in Floridians:

DONALDS: People were coming out of their homes trying to help their neighbors, cutting trees, uh, out of other neighbors' yards to help them get back on their feet. Uh, that's what Florida does. When the chips are down, we pull together. We make sure we recover and get past these storms.

Farther north, North Carolina emergency officials say rescuers pulled two people and their dog to safety Sunday after the storm's rains swelled a river.

Forecasters say the remnants could bring lingering showers to southern New England this morning before skies brighten.

Meantime, another powerful storm threatens Mexico’s Pacific coast. Hurricane Simon lashed Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas last night as its core tracked just offshore

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: The bigger implications of a Colorado lawsuit over climate change. Plus, the Monday Moneybeat with David Bahnsen.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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