Cubans reacted with cautious optimism on Monday as a long‑awaited Russian oil shipment neared the island, offering temporary relief from a deepening energy crisis after US President Donald Trump allowed the tanker to proceed despite his broader oil blockade.
The Anatoly Kolodkin, a US‑sanctioned tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of crude, was expected to dock at the western port of Matanzas by Tuesday. It marks Cuba’s first oil delivery since January.
Trump’s decision to permit the shipment avoids a direct confrontation with Moscow and provides short‑term breathing room for a country grappling with rolling blackouts, fuel rationing and collapsing public transport.
“We’ll welcome it with open arms. You have no idea how badly we need that oil,” said Rosa Perez, a 74‑year‑old retiree walking near the port after yet another power outage. “Let’s see if things improve for us, even just a little… I can’t take it anymore.”
“It’s a drop in the bucket compared to what this country needs,” said Raul Pomares, a 56‑year‑old gardener waiting for a taxi in Havana. “It’s symbolic. It won’t change daily life for ordinary Cubans.”
Moscow said it was “pleased” the tanker had reached Cuban waters. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia considered it its duty to support Cuba and confirmed that Washington and Moscow had communicated about the shipment.
“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,” he said, while adding he had “no problem” with humanitarian deliveries.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed that US sanctions policy remained unchanged. “We allowed this ship to reach Cuba in order to provide humanitarian needs to the Cuban people. These decisions are being made on a case‑by‑case basis,” she said.
Cuba’s crisis deepened in January when US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, cutting off Havana’s main regional ally and oil supplier. Trump later threatened tariffs on any country sending oil to Cuba and has spoken openly about “taking” the island.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government has held talks with private firms about purchasing oil from Mexico’s state‑owned energy company for resale to Cuban businesses. She added that she personally donated 20,000 pesos (US$1,100) in humanitarian aid to Cuba.
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