In a departure from its recent policy of tightening economic pressure on Cuba, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has permitted a Russian-flagged oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island nation, which is currently grappling with a deepening energy crisis.
The vessel, identified as the Anatoly Kolodkin, reportedly arrived at the port of Matanzas on Monday, carrying nearly 730,000 barrels of oil. Its passage was confirmed by both the Russian Ministry of Transport and Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Peskov, the matter had been raised in advance during communications with American officials.
The decision marks a notable shift in U.S. policy. In recent months, Washington had intensified its embargo on Havana—designated by the U.S. as “an extraordinary threat”—by cutting off supplies from Venezuela, Cuba’s primary oil provider, and threatening other nations with additional tariffs if they supplied fuel to the island. The blockade had led to widespread blackouts, piled-up waste in the capital, and strained medical services, with hospitals struggling to maintain operations due to power shortages.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump acknowledged the incoming tanker and justified the allowance on humanitarian grounds. “We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload, because they have to survive,” he said, adding that he would welcome such shipments “whether it’s Russia or anybody else,” citing the basic need for heating and cooling.
The fuel shortage in Cuba has grown critical since January, when the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, effectively halting shipments from that country. Subsequent threats of tariffs from Washington also dissuaded other suppliers, including Mexico, from continuing deliveries. The resulting scarcity has led to prolonged blackouts, frequent collapses of the national power grid, soaring fuel prices, and deteriorating infrastructure. In recent weeks, the crisis has sparked rare public unrest, including pot-banging protests and bonfires in several cities.
Although the Kremlin noted last week that it was in discussions with Cuban authorities regarding potential assistance, it had not previously confirmed any fuel shipments. When asked whether the tanker’s passage would benefit Russia, Trump downplayed the significance, describing it as a minor, isolated instance of aid.