The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin has delivered 100,000 tons of oil to Cuba, the TASS news agency reported, citing Russia’s Transport Ministry.
The ministry described the cargo as humanitarian. It is the first shipment of raw materials to the island since the start of the US energy blockade, meaning nearly three months.
The vessel is awaiting unloading at the Cuban port of Mansas. Experts previously interviewed by The New York Times said the amount of fuel delivered by the tanker would last for several weeks.
In January, US President Donald Trump launched an energy blockade of Cuba. Washington presented Havana with a list of accusations, including “systematic human rights violations,” “destabilization of the region,” and “building close ties with a number of hostile states and unfriendly actors,” including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
Despite this, on March 30 Trump said he did not object to shipments of Russian oil to Cuba because the country needs it “to survive.” “If any country wants to send oil to Cuba right now, I have no problem with it — whether it is Russia or anyone else,” the US president said.
Amid the war in Iran and rising energy prices, on March 13 the United States allowed third countries for one month to buy Russian oil and petroleum products that had been loaded onto tankers before March 12 and are now at sea. At the same time, Washington banned transactions involving Russian oil with the participation of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the annexed territories of Ukraine.