People spend the night in the dark on the Malecon during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Ramon Espinosa/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Ramon Espinosa/AP
ABOARD AIRFORCE ONE — On Sunday night, President Donald Trump expressed that he had “no problem” with a Russian oil tanker positioned off Cuba’s coast, bringing relief to the island, which has been significantly impacted by a U.S. oil blockade.
“We have a tanker out there. We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload because they need… they have to survive,” Trump remarked to reporters while returning to Washington.
In response to a question about a New York Times report suggesting the tanker would be permitted to reach Cuba, Trump stated, “I told them, if a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not.”
Tracking data indicates the tanker, carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of oil, was situated off the eastern tip of the island on Sunday night and expected to arrive in Matanzas by Tuesday. Cuban state media journalists also reported on the vessel’s anticipated arrival, though Cuban officials did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment.
The vessel, Anatoly Kolodkin, is under sanctions by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Trump, whose administration has pursued a stricter approach toward Cuba than any recent U.S. government, has effectively blocked Cuba from vital oil shipments to incite regime change. This blockade has severely affected the civilians Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio claim to want to assist, leaving many in dire circumstances.
Widespread blackouts have plagued Cubans already dealing with prolonged crises, while shortages of gasoline and essential resources have crippled hospitals and drastically reduced public transportation.
Experts estimate the expected shipment could yield about 180,000 barrels of diesel, sufficient to meet Cuba’s daily demand for nine or ten days.
Widespread blackouts have plagued Cubans already dealing with prolonged crises, while shortages of gasoline and essential resources have crippled hospitals and drastically reduced public transportation.
Cuba has long been a focal point in the geopolitical tug-of-war between the U.S. and Russia, spanning decades. On Sunday, Trump dismissed the notion that allowing the vessel to reach Cuba would benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It doesn’t help him. He loses one boatload of oil, that’s all it is. If he wants to do that, and if other countries want to do it, it doesn’t bother me much,” Trump said. “It’s not going to have an impact. Cuba’s finished. They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not going to matter.”
He further stated: “I’d prefer letting it in, whether it’s Russia or anybody else because the people need heat and cooling and all of the other things.”
