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Russian tanker delivers first oil shipment to Cuba since January
A Russian vessel carrying 100,000 tonnes of crude oil entered Cuban waters on Monday, marking the first fuel delivery to the island since the United States imposed an effective blockade in January. The shipment arrives after US President Donald Trump suggested a potential easing of restrictions, though his stance remains unclear.
US stance softens but threats persist
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that he had "no problem" with Russia supplying oil to Cuba, describing it as a matter of survival for the island. However, he later reiterated his criticism of Cuba's leadership, calling its government "corrupt" and declaring, "Cuba's finished."
His comments left uncertainty over whether the policy shift was permanent or temporary. The US Treasury had added Cuba to a list of countries barred from receiving Russian oil just days earlier, complicating the situation.
Cuba faces deepening crisis amid fuel shortages
Cuba has struggled with widespread blackouts and fuel shortages since the US tightened restrictions in January. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned last week that hospitals were struggling to maintain emergency services due to the lack of fuel.
The crisis worsened after the US detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January, cutting off Cuba's primary oil supplier, which had provided fuel under preferential terms. Trump had previously threatened tariffs on any nation sending oil to Cuba.
Russia frames shipment as humanitarian aid
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov described the delivery as a "duty" to assist Cuba, stating that discussions with US officials had taken place "well in advance." The Cuban government hailed the shipment as breaking the US-imposed blockade.
The oil, expected to be unloaded at the Matanzas terminal, offers only a short-term reprieve for Cuba's energy crisis. The island's economy has been further strained by a drop in tourism post-pandemic and long-standing economic mismanagement.
Diplomatic stalemate continues
Negotiations between Havana and Washington have stalled over irreconcilable demands. Trump has suggested he could "take" Cuba, while Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has refused any external interference in the country's political or economic direction.
The arrival of the Russian tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, may provide temporary relief, but the broader crisis shows no signs of resolution.
