HAVANA — A Russian oil tanker successfully arrived at Cuba’s Matanzas port on Tuesday, delivering 730,000 barrels of much-needed fuel to the Caribbean island after a three-month gap in petroleum deliveries.
The vessel Anatoly Kolodkin was permitted to complete its mission by the Trump administration, even as the U.S. maintains strict energy sanctions against Cuba.
Cuban officials, including Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, celebrated the tanker’s arrival as the nation grapples with widespread power outages and shortages of essential goods including food and medical supplies.
“Our gratitude to the Government and People of Russia for all the support we are receiving. A valuable shipment that arrives amidst the complex energy situation we are facing,” de la O Levy wrote on X.
The island nation generates less than half of its fuel needs domestically and depends heavily on foreign oil to power its electrical infrastructure. Energy analysts estimate the cargo could yield approximately 180,000 barrels of diesel fuel, sufficient to meet Cuba’s consumption for roughly nine to ten days.
Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío highlighted the significance of the delivery on social media. “The arrival of an oil tanker to a country has likely never generated so much news as the Russian one to Cuba,” he posted on X. “It’s a sign of the brutal siege Cubans endure with heroism and stoicism. It’s a demonstration of the criminal cruelty of imperialism against a nation that refuses to be dominated.”
Cuba previously depended on Venezuela for most of its petroleum imports, but those deliveries ceased after U.S. actions against the South American nation in early January, including the arrest of its leadership. Mexico also suspended oil exports to Cuba following Trump’s late January warning of potential tariffs against any nation providing fuel to the island.
Speaking to reporters while returning to Washington on Sunday evening, Trump expressed tolerance for the Russian delivery. “We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload because they need … they have to survive,” Trump stated.
However, he remained critical of Cuba’s government, adding: “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.”
The Russian tanker faces sanctions from the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
When questioned Monday about the administration’s selective approach to oil deliveries, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described it as “a decision that will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons or otherwise,” while emphasizing “there’s been no firm change in our sanctions policy.”
Both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio continue pushing for significant reforms in Cuba’s political system and policies, with discussions ongoing as the island faces mounting economic and energy challenges.
