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Trump Announces "Energy Ceasefire" Between Ukraine And Russia; Source: Energy Ceasefire News Surprised Ukranian Leadership; Zelenskyy: Russia Attacked Heat And Power Plant in Kharkiv; Pope Leo to Undergo Surgery for Growth on Lung; Couples, Friends in Paris Celebrate Not Getting Married. Aired 1-1:45a ET

Aired October 12, 2026 - 01:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[01:00:10]

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello wherever you are in the world. You are now in the CNN NEWSROOM with me, Ben Hunte in Atlanta. And it is so good to have you with me.

Coming up on the show, President Trump announces an energy cease fire between Russia and Ukraine, but it seems nobody told Moscow. As Ukraine says Russia continued its strikes. So where do things actually stand?

Houthi rebels struck one of Saudi Arabia's biggest airports for the second day in a row. We'll talk to an expert on the Houthis about what's behind this latest escalation.

Plus a health scare for Pope Leo as he announces he will undergo surgery. Hear how the Catholic faithful are reacting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Ben Hunte.

HUNTE: Welcome. We begin this hour with the Trump administration's threat towards Ukraine and its allies. The U.S. says it will suspend intelligence sharing as well as European purchases of U.S. weapons for Ukraine if Kyiv does not stop its strikes on Russian energy facilities. That is according to two European officials familiar with that matter.

That warning comes after President Trump posted this on Truth Social earlier on Sunday, quote, "Effective immediately, there is an energy ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed do not break it."

However, the news appears to have surprised Ukrainian leadership. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X that Ukraine is still waiting for more details about that arrangement.

He said, "Kyiv supports a ceasefire and that it's important that Russia does exactly the same." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (voiceover): Today there was a statement by the president of the United States that an energy ceasefire has been reached. This is good news for everyone. It is important that it becomes a reality.

Ukraine is ready to refrain from striking Russian energy facilities. And you expect Russia to show the same readiness?

We welcome such an agreement. Unfortunately, Russian-Czech drones were in disguise throughout the day today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: President Zelenskyy later revealed that Russia had carried out a new attack on energy facilities in Kharkiv after President Trump's announcement and Ukrainian officials say a separate missile strike hit a residential area in that same district. A quick warning. The video you're about to see is disturbing.

Authorities in Kharkiv say that footage shows the moment a village grocery store was hit. They reported at least three people killed and 20 others injured. CNN's Betsy Klein has been tracking developments on the energy cease fire announcement and she brings us the latest from the White House.

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, the fact that Russia continued to strike Ukraine's energy infrastructure after President Trump announced this so-called energy cease fire is reason for skepticism that there is in fact a deal in place. President Trump claimed early Sunday morning that both sides had agreed to an energy cease fire that would begin, in his words, immediately. But Ukraine's President Zelenskyy appeared to indicate that he was caught off guard by this announcement, one Ukrainian official telling CNN that they found out at the same time that the president made that post to social media. Zelenskyy does say that Ukraine supports a cease fire, but they are awaiting more details from the U.S. side.

Now, there's no word from the Kremlin at this stage on whether they are in agreement here, but if you're tracking their actions, there is not an energy cease fire at the this time. Now, I asked the White House if they could provide any additional details beyond the president's social media post on how this came together and what the next steps are. They referred me at this point to the president's post. And there is some important context here, and that is that on Friday, President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the two leaders unveiled what has proven to be a controversial deal to allow Russian diesel export for its aimed at helping to provide additional supply there.

Now, that deal has drawn bipartisan criticism, including a new statement from a group of seven senators, four Republicans and three Democrats. They say, quote, congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing Putin's brutal war against Ukraine. Congress was clear the U.S. should not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threats against our NATO allies. The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians. The administration must immediately, they say, reverse course.

Now, after that diesel deal was announced, Trump officials met with Ukrainian officials in Miami. But Zelenskyy personally criticized that deal, saying that it would prolong the war. All of this likely to come up on Tuesday morning as the president's newly minted press secretary, Katie Zachariah, holds her first press briefing at 9:30 a.m. Betsy Klein, CNN, Washington.

[01:05:12]

HUNTE: The shifting U.S. approach to Russia's war in Ukraine is not happening in a vacuum. CNN's former Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty explains the range of factors impacting U.S. Ukraine relations.

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JILL DOUGHERTY, FORMER CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: You know, it is complex in a way that it's unfolded. But I think the message, you know, what is actually happening is very clear. I think that Zelenskyy feels that he's been sold down the river by the Trump administration and specifically President Trump. I mean, if you look at some of the things that Zelenskyy has said, you know, he said their negotiating team was used as a smokescreen and that that's not fair and that's not how partners should deal with each other.

Essentially what's happening is there's no question that energy prices are spiking around the world. And the war in Ukraine, Russia's war against Ukraine does play some role, but the bigger role actually is what's happening with the Strait of Hormuz and the Iran war that President Trump launched.

So, I think Zelenskyy feels at this point that he is being used as a whipping boy for these prices that are not being caused specifically by what's happening in Ukraine. And this is continuing.

I mean, as we speak in the last 24 hours, the U.S. has upped the ante. They're talking now about stopping intelligence for Ukraine or stopping the procurement for weapons that are provided to Ukraine. So, this is not over. And I think the punishment for Zelenskyy is continuing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Let's check in on how the markets are reacting to all of this. Global oil prices appear to be dropping following President Trump's announcement. Both Brent crude and WTI are currently down more than 1 percent.

Let's turn now to the Middle East. Saudi officials say at least one person was killed and 11 others injured in a new strike on Riyadh King Khalid International Airport. A warning the images you're about to see are disturbing again. Sunday's attack comes just one day after a Houthi missile strike killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300 others. It is the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade. Yemen's Iran backed Houthis have claimed responsibility for these attacks, saying they're in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen that have killed women and children.

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is planning to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman President Trump also says he's considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. That is, of course, despite previously resisting the kingdom's requests for direct military intervention.

Earlier, I spoke with Fatima Alasrar, senior analyst at Red Sea Futures. And what the Houthis are trying to achieve with this latest escalation.

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FATIMA ALASRAR, SENIOR ANALYST, RED SEA FUTURES: Fundamentally, the Houthis are trying to change the war calculus. They're trying to impose costs on Riyadh. But there are two reasons why the Houthis are doing this now.

First is locally, they're being pushed by ground forces that are supported by Saudi Arabia after the Houthis attempted to take Bab el Mandab in September. So, they took government land in September. And then there was a counteroffensive that the Saudis backed. And the Houthis are trying to get the Saudis to back off from supporting the government of Yemen that's internationally recognized, and recognizing the Houthis instead.

But on the other hand, the Houthis are also the forward arm for Tehran. And what they want to do is pretty much Tehran wants to make the same calculus that it has in Hormuz repeat itself in Bab El Mandab. So, they're trying to impose the same costs on Washington. So, this is much more of a message to Washington and less story (inaudible).

HUNTE: These attacks are putting Saudi civilians at risk, though, and the airport has been hit repeatedly. How vulnerable is Saudi Arabia to further strikes? And what can it actually do to protect its people?

ALASRAR: Saudi Arabia is vulnerable because the Houthis use asymmetric warfare by launching cheap drones, ballistic missiles, pulling all of that arsenal into vital Saudi infrastructure. And that's quite important. So, they're attempting to disrupt and impose economic costs on the Saudi kingdom. That's their entire play. That's what they're really proud of and what they keep playing on. But something has happened today.

[01:10:10]

I mean, with Saudi Arabia releasing the footage of the pilgrims who were hit. It puts in sharp contrast the hypocrisy of this movement that has been sort of describing Saudi Arabia as allying with the United States and hosting, you know, moving towards normalization. And this is the same group that attacked Israel. So now to see them attack pilgrims, I think it changes something in

the calculus of this war as well. And I think it might, it might shift it, it might activate the Mecca defense pact with Pakistan and Ankara. So, it's -- it's unpredictable at the moment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying more than 300 people capsized while traveling from Djibouti to Yemen. The International Organization for migration says around 84 people are still missing there, too. Video released by the UN Agency shows parts of the boat floating at sea with shoes scattered along Djibouti's eastern shoreline and aid workers searching for survivors. The migrants were heading to Yemen, hoping to eventually make it to wealthier Gulf nations, even as Yemeni nationals themselves flee the country amid escalating conflict there.

There is much more to come here on CNN Newsroom. People along Mexico's Pacific coast are taking shelter as a powerful category for hurricane approaches. We'll look at the forecast ahead. See in a moment.

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HUNTE: Welcome back. A landslide triggered flash flood has left a trail of destruction across central Nepal. Authorities say Nepal's army is working to evacuate those stranded by that flood. Homes and bridges have been swept away and at least five people have been reported missing so far. This disaster, of course, comes less than two months after a flood at the park Poor China border killed hundreds of people and left thousands of others missing.

Post-tropical Storm Rachel is moving east from Southern California. Over the weekend, strong waves broke the seawall and damaged houses on the coast of Long Beach. The storm is now pushing heavy rainfall across parts of the U.S. Southwest, and forecasters say it could cause flooding. More than 15 million people are also under strong wind alerts there.

Right now, Hurricane Simon is lashing Mexico's Pacific coast with dangerous waves, heavy rain and strong wind, too. The Category 4 storm has not made landfall and forecasters aren't sure if it will. But a U.S. national Hurricane center says Simon is still extremely dangerous. CNN's Valeria Leon has more.

VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All Mexico's Pacific coast is now on high alert as Hurricane Simon has rapidly intensified into a powerful Category 4 storm, threatening coastal communities with destructive winds and also flooding. And Simon, intensified significantly since Friday, is now moving dangerously close to some of Mexico's most popular coastal destinations, including Puerto Vallarta in the Mexican state of Jalisco and also Manzanillo in Colima.

According to the U.S. national Hurricane Center, Simon is packing maximum sustained winds of around 140 miles per hour and is moving northwest along Mexico's western coast. And even if the eye of the storm remains offshore, forecasters warn that its impact could still be devastating.

Mexican authorities have issued their highest level of alert in 28 municipalities across Jalisco and Colima, and dozens of emergency shelters have been opened and Puerto Vallarta's international airport has been closed. Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is now urging residents to remain indoors or seek shelter as the storm approaches. One of the biggest concerns right now is the heavy rain Simon has already brought to parts of Mexico, with even more expected in the coming hours.

HUNTE: Russell Brand will stand trial in London on Monday on seven charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault. The actor and comedian has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. The allegations go back to 1999, at the start of his career and just before he became a household name in the U.K.

Chloe Jay is a senior partner with Shentons Solicitors. She joins us now from Winchester, England. It is good to see you.

Russell Brand's trial is due to begin on Monday. How significant is this case and what should we expect to happen in court over the coming weeks?

CHLOE JAY, SENIOR PARTNER, SHENTONS SOLICITOR: So, the trial is due to start today. That may well mean that there isn't any evidence actually heard today. There's often lots of legal argument before the trial begins. There will be jury selection, but that's quite different in the U.K. to how it is in the U.S. The only real objection we have for jurors is if they know someone involved in the case.

We don't find out a lot about jurors. We can't object on the basis of gender or race or any other thing like that. And so essentially, they'll be randomly selected, and as long as they don't know anyone in the trial, then they'll be sworn in to try the case.

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HUNTE: This case has, of course, attracted huge publicity even before the trial has begun. How does the court balance a defendant's right to a fair trial with the public's right to know what's going on?

JAY: Well, it's quite strict rules in the U.K., so there won't be any live feed of the evidence. You won't be seeing videos of the witnesses giving evidence, you won't be hearing from lawyers in press conferences throughout the trial, because we actually have quite strict rules about contempt of court and there should be nothing that can influence a juror or prejudice them in their mind. And so we don't report in that way in the U.K., and that's the best protection we have, really, to ensure a fair trial for the defendant.

HUNTE: The allegations date back as far as 1999. What challenges can legal teams face when trying to prove allegations of sexual offenses that are said to have happened so long ago? JAY: Well, it's, it's obviously difficult. Memories fade over time. Potentially there could be witnesses that may have remembered something, but if they're asked 25 years later, it's much harder for them to remember what happened. So that does present a difficulty for the defense teams with historic allegations.

And obviously, it's hard for somebody to prove where they were or prove a negative when it's so far, when so much time has passed. So, yes, that is a difficulty.

HUNTE: As you mentioned before, unlike in the us, criminal trials in England and Wales are not routinely broadcast live. But why are there such strict rules on what happens inside those U.K. courtrooms?

JAY: I think -- I think it really is down to exactly what, what you already highlighted, ensuring that there's a fair trial. We don't encourage lots of people to be commenting on the evidence and giving their opinion as to whether they thought a witness was believable or not. And obviously, the more that you show that evidence live, the more people will comment on it.

Particularly with a trial with someone famous like this, where everyone's interested and thinks they know the person and they -- they might even think they know some of the complainants, you will get people commenting and giving their opinion, and that's obviously not something that will assist the jurors in coming to their decision.

HUNTE: Russell Brand built a career around a massive public persona, often speaking openly about sex and relationships in very vulgar ways. How might that public image shape the way that people do perceive these allegations? And why do you think it's important to separate his celebrity from the evidence?

JAY: So the jurors will take an oath that they must try the case on the evidence, and that's only the evidence that they hear in court. So, they shouldn't be looking at anything that Mr. Brand has said online or interviews that he's given unless they're brought into the court.

Now, it could be that the lawyers might show some -- something he has said before. If it's shown a particular attitude towards sex or towards something, then I can imagine that could be shown to him, for example, in cross examination or as part of their case. But it's only if that happens that the jurors would be able to take that into account, because otherwise they should completely separate anything that they've known before or anything they've seen on the Internet, put that all to one side, and just try the case on the evidence that they hear in the courtroom.

HUNTE: Considering Russell Brand's celebrity status, were you surprised to see this case actually get to court?

JAY: No, I think that's -- I think that's very important that celebrities are seen and dealt with in exactly the same way as anybody else. And I think, if anything, somebody being a celebrity does mean that there's perhaps more pressure on the authorities to bring something to court and to have that justice seen to be done because that's very important concept, isn't it?

So, I think, yes. I'm not -- I'm not surprised that he's been brought to court.

HUNTE: And based on what you have seen, what do you think will be the outcome of all of this? And could there be a public backlash, depending on what does actually happen at the end?

JAY: I couldn't possibly say what the outcome is going to be. You need to hear and see all of the evidence, which -- which I haven't. If he's convicted or acquitted, I can imagine that there will be strong feelings from either of those outcomes, and there may well be quite a backlash in terms of public feeling and the MeToo movement and all of those movements that are prevalent on the Internet.

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HUNTE: Okay, let's see what happens. Chloe Jay, appreciate you joining us. Thank you for your time.

JAY: Thank you.

HUNTE: There is much more to come here on CNN Newsroom, including Pope Leo's announcement that he will undergo surgery to remove a growth from his lung. We will be right back.

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HUNTE: Welcome back. Pope Leo is undergoing surgery this week after doctors discovered a small nodule on his lung. This is the first health scare since the 71-year-old American became pontiff. Catholic parishioners sent their thoughts and prayers to the Pope ahead of his surgery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would like to share with the Pope that we are with him and we are praying for him like he does for us and we believe in the Lord and we believe that he will guide him his surgery and that there is hope and there's a light at the end of the tunnel for him and that there's a plan and there's a reason that this is happening, to show hope to the people. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: CNN's Stefano Pozzebon has the latest on the Pope's condition from Rome.

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The announcement by Pope Leo that he is to have an operation to remove a nodule in his lung in upcoming days took most people by surprise, especially when they heard it live this Sunday in a very warm October morning here at the Vatican in Rome. However, this surprise does not necessarily mean that there is a cause for anxiety. A lung nodule is a small mass of dense tissue on the lung and most of them are not cancerous. The procedure is fairly simple and according to experts that spoke

with CNN, the Pontiff is expected to recover in about seven days. Pope Leo made the announcement at the end of his Angelus on Sunday morning and he referred to it as a matter of fact. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE LEO XIV, HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (voiceover): Dearest. Recently during some medical examinations, doctors found a localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained. The doctors believe it's advisable to intervene, so following their advice, I've decided to undergo surgery and remove it.

The operation is already scheduled for the next few days. I thank you for your spiritual support and entrust myself to your prayers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POZZEBON: Shortly after, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo is due to go to the Gemelli Hospital, the main hospital that is known for treating pontiffs and other high hierarchy in the Catholic Church. That is just a stone throw from the Vatican itself and he will go through the operation in the upcoming days. Before making the announcement, Pope Leo spoke directly to Peruvian faithful who were listening to him in St. Peter's Square, saying that he is looking forward to visiting Peru in the upcoming month.

The Pontiff is due to travel to South America, Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between November 6 and November 17 and at this stage it does not seem that his upcoming operation will put that travel at risk. For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Rome.

HUNTE: There is much more to come here on CNN Newsroom, including how couples in the city of Love are committing to not commit to each other. I'll explain more in a minute.

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[01:30:04]

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back.

Pope Leo is undergoing surgery this week after doctors discovered a small nodule on his lung. This is the first health scare since the 71- year-old American became pontiff.

Catholic parishioners sent their thoughts and prayers to the Pope ahead of his surgery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would like to share with the Pope that we are with him and we are praying for him like he does for us. And we believe in the Lord, and we believe that he will guide him through his surgery and that there is hope. And there's a light at the end of the tunnel for him. And that there's a plan and there's a reason that this is happening, to show hope to the people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: CNN's Stefano Pozzebon has the latest on the Pope's condition from Rome.

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STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN ROME CORRESPONDENT: The announcement by Pope Leo that he is to have an operation to remove a nodule in his lung in the coming days, took most people by surprise, especially when they heard it live this Sunday in a very warm October morning here at the Vatican in Rome.

However, this surprise does not necessarily mean that there is a cause for anxiety. A lung nodule is a small mass of dense tissue on the lung, and most of them are not cancerous.

The procedure is fairly simple, and according to experts that spoke with CNN, the Pontiff is expected to recover in about seven days.

Pope Leo made the announcement at the end of his Angelus on Sunday morning, and he referred to it as a matter of fact. Take a listen.

POPE LEO XIV, ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): Dearest, recently during some medical examinations, doctors found a localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well- contained.

The doctors believe it's advisable to intervene. So, following their advice, I've decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled for the next few days.

I thank you for your spiritual support and entrust myself to your prayers.

POZZEBON: Shortly after the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo is due to go to the Gemelli Hospital, the main hospital that is known for treating pontiffs and other high hierarchy in the Catholic Church.

That is just a stone's throw from the Vatican itself. And he will go through the operation in the upcoming days.

Before making the announcement, Pope Leo spoke directly to Peruvian faithful who were listening to him in Saint Peter's Square, saying that he is looking forward to visiting Peru in the upcoming month.

The Pontiff is due to travel to South America, Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between November 6th and November 17th.

And at this stage, it does not seem that his upcoming operation will put that travel at risk.

For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE) HUNTE: There is much more to come here on CNN NEWSROOM, including how couples in the City of Love are committing to not commit to each other. I'll explain more in a minute.

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HUNTE: Welcome back.

Love is in the air in Paris, but don't expect the romance to come with a ring. Dozens of couples, friends and even pets dressed up in the French capital on Sunday to celebrate not getting married.

Let me help you with this.

So the mayor of Paris' 18th district hosted a ceremony of non-marriage proposals where non-marriage vows were exchanged.

Here's my report.

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HUNTE: At the grape harvest festival in Montmartre in Paris, love may be in the air, but marriage isn't.

SYLVIE, NON-MARRIAGE CEREMONY PARTICIPANT (through translator): It's really about hoping for eternal love rather than making a promise that might not last the test of time in a marriage.

HUNTE: Dozens of participants walked down the aisle in the annual mock ceremony to pledge their love, friendship and companionship in a way that doesn't require a license or a ring, just a full heart.

ERIC LEJOINDRE, MAYOR OF 18TH ARRONDISSEMENT IN PARIS (through translator): It is a truly beautiful ceremony. There are many different love stories, a great deal of freedom, plenty of joy, and above all, lots of good humor.

HUNTE: The light-hearted event isn't just for couples, though. Friends can also take the plunge. and one woman brought her dog poppy to profess her devotion to the loyal pup already sharing her life.

Many people wore flowers in their hair and dressed up for the whimsical affair. Others were more casual.

DOMINIQUE, NON-MARRIAGE CEREMONY PARTICIPANT (through translator): So this is the third one. And, well, he's already been divorced twice, so I wouldn't want to be the third.

HUNTE: So no I dos, nothing legally binding, just an expression of love that's not married to convention.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: And now to my hometown, a London suburb is proving you don't need snow to go skiing. Organizers staged what they called a downhill skiing event in Surbiton on Sunday.

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HUNTE: Since there was absolutely no snow there, people strapped blocks of ice to their feet and other objects too and slid along a track that was made slippery with water and detergent.

Yes, there they are. Look at that. Very much like bobsledding. Wow.

Proceeds from the event went to a local charity. And that is that.

That's all I've got for you. Thanks for joining me and the team.

I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta.

"WORLD SPORT" is, of course, coming up next.

And then I'll see you back here very, very soon in a couple of weeks. Have a good week, for now. See you then.

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