US EditionTrump reverses course on Cuban oil blockade, allows Russian tanker to pass
The U.S. reversed its oil blockade, allowing the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin to deliver 730,000 barrels of crude, easing Cuba's energy crisis after three months without oil imports.
- On Monday, the US administration allowed the sanctioned Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin to proceed to Cuba, marking a rare pause in Washington's de facto fuel blockade of the energy-starved island.
- Washington's fuel blockade intensified after the January 3 capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which cut off Cuba's primary oil supplier and triggered severe fuel rationing, blackouts, and nationwide shortages across the island.
- Carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of crude, the tanker is expected to reach Matanzas by Tuesday, with energy analyst Jorge Piñón estimating the cargo could yield 250,000 barrels of diesel—enough to cover about 12.5 days of demand.
- President Donald Trump stated he has "no problem" with the delivery, telling reporters, "the people need heat and cooling," while maintaining the shipment will not fundamentally alter Cuba's deteriorating energy crisis.
- Analysts warn the shipment offers only temporary relief, not a permanent solution, as the administration continues pressuring Cuba's government while managing geopolitical implications of the vessel's arrival off Florida's coast.
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372 Articles
A Russian tanker with 730,000 barrels of oil has arrived in Cuba.
Russian oil tanker arrives in Cuba as Moscow vows to stand by Havana
Russia said on Monday that an oil tanker carrying 100,000 metric tons of crude oil had arrived in Cuba and that Moscow would stand by its friends by working on further supplies despite a US blockade of the island. The US cut off Venezuela’s oil exports to Cuba after toppling deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro on January 3, and US President Donald Trump threatened to slap punishing tariffs on any other country that sent crude to Cuba. Bu…
Faced with severe energy shortages, the island has not imported oil since 9 January.
The Kremlin claimed that they had previously agreed with Washington on humanitarian supplies of black gold to the island.
Trump says he has 'no problem' with sanctioned Russian oil tanker bringing relief to Cuba despite blockade
"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 as he flew back to Washington.
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