ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE – U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday night stated he has “no problem” with a Russian oil tanker delivering fuel to Cuba, as the island faces severe shortages caused by a U.S.-imposed oil blockade.
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“We have a tanker out there. We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload because they need… they have to survive,” Trump told reporters while returning to Washington. When asked about a report from The New York Times regarding the tanker’s expected arrival, Trump said: “If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not.”
BREAKING: President Donald Trump said he has “no problem” with a Russian oil tanker off the coast of Cuba delivering relief to the island, which has been brought to its knees by a U.S. oil blockade. https://t.co/Qf5gyWd6Zk
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 30, 2026
The vessel, Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of oil, was off the eastern tip of Cuba on Sunday night and is expected to reach the city of Matanzas by Tuesday. The tanker is sanctioned by the U.S., the European Union, and the U.K. over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Trump’s administration has maintained a strict oil blockade on Cuba in an attempt to pressure the government, resulting in widespread blackouts, fuel shortages, and disruptions to hospitals and public transport. Experts say the shipment could produce around 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to meet Cuba’s daily fuel demand for nine to ten days.
Trump dismissed concerns that allowing the tanker to dock would benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “It doesn’t help him. He loses one boatload of oil, that’s all it is… I’d prefer letting it in… because the people need heat and cooling and all of the other things.”
Read More: Russia vows to keep supplying oil to Cuba despite US pressure
The decision underscores the humanitarian dimension of the ongoing geopolitical standoff, as Cuba struggles with the effects of sanctions while caught between U.S. and Russian interests.