Monday 12 October 2026 07:30 UTC
Trump Announces Unconfirmed Russia-Ukraine Energy Ceasefire
Donald Trump announced an immediate Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire, saying both sides had agreed. Moscow did not confirm this, while Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had not been informed beforehand but would participate if Russia agreed. The proposed arrangement would stop attacks on oil refineries, although Ukraine has no fully functioning refinery. Zelensky said Russian strikes were continuing against power plants and other infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv. He said Russia had hit Ukrainian electricity facilities more than 200 times during the past week and oil and gas sites 17 times, killing over 150 people and injuring more than 700. A planned visit to Moscow by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner was put on hold.
continue reading below
The Trump administration said it would proceed with its Russian diesel deal despite growing objections. Republican Senator Thom Tillis warned that the agreement might be illegal and could endanger American lives, while Canada condemned it. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said existing legal authority allowed the purchases and argued they would reduce US diesel prices. Questions remained about Russia’s ability to provide the promised supply.
Saudi authorities said another ballistic missile struck Riyadh airport, hitting Terminal 4 and starting a fire after the previous day’s attack on Terminal 3. Accounts of the casualties conflicted: one said at least 13 people were killed and more than 300 injured, while the civil aviation authority said one Pakistani resident died and 11 people were injured in the Terminal 4 strike. The authority also said Dammam airport was attacked on Sunday evening. Separately, an uncrewed aircraft hit a tanker at Oman’s Sohar anchorage, prompting local authorities to evacuate its crew. Another outbound vessel in the Strait of Hormuz was damaged by an unknown projectile; all crew were safe.