President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that the United States would allow a Russian oil tanker to enter Cuban waters in order to ease the island’s energy crisis. The tanker, named “Anatoly Kolodkin”, was spotted off Cuba’s coast and is expected to dock at the port of Matanzas within the next few days.
In recent months Washington has increased pressure on the communist‑ruled country by terminating Venezuela’s oil supply and threatening additional tariffs on other suppliers. The resulting oil embargo has caused frequent power outages and garbage accumulation in the capital, and hospitals have struggled to maintain operating rooms and deliver essential care.
During a briefing on Air Force One before reporters, Trump stated that he has no objection to any nation sending oil to Cuba because the people there must survive. He added that he does not care whether the oil originates from Russia or elsewhere. After the U.S. intervention that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, Cuba stopped receiving Venezuelan oil. Shipments from other countries, such as Mexico, were also halted following the Trump administration’s threat of additional tariffs.
