The U.S. government will permit a Russian tanker loaded with over 730,000 barrels of oil to reach Cuba, alleviating an ongoing energy crisis. President Donald Trump stated, “We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload, because they need… they have to survive.” This decision follows recent actions to ease sanctions on Russian oil shipments globally.
The tanker, named Anatoly Kolodkin, is en route to the Matanzas port in Cuba, after leaving Primorsk, Russia. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has highlighted the persistence of fuel shortages, leading to strict gas rationing and deepening the island’s energy crisis. The loss of Venezuela as a key ally has exacerbated the situation.