Trump says he has “no problem” with a Russian tanker bringing oil to Cuba despite the embargo

President Trump on Sunday night said he had “no problem” with a Russian oil tanker off the coast of Cuba bringing aid to the island, which is on its knees US oil embargo.

“We have a tanker over there. We don’t have a problem with someone loading a boat because they need… they have to survive,” said Mr. Trump told reporters as he flew back to Washington.

When asked if the New York Times report that the ship would be allowed to reach Cuba was true, Mr. Trump said: “I told them, if a country wants to send oil to Cuba right now, I don’t care if it’s Russia or not.

Tracking data shows that the oil tanker, which was carrying about 730,000 barrels of oil, just arrived in the eastern part of the island on Sunday night and is expected to arrive in the city of Matanzas on Tuesday. Cuban media reporters also reported on the boat’s arrival, although Cuban officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The ship, Anatoly Kolodkin, has been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom following the war in Ukraine.

Mr. Trump, whose administration has come down harder on its Caribbean foe than any US administration in recent history, has effectively cut off Cuba’s vital oil pipeline in an effort to force regime change. This restriction has had a negative impact on the citizens Mr. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio say they want to help, leaving many desperate.

Power outages on the island Cubans already suffering from years of hardship have been crippled, while fuel and utility shortages have crippled hospitals and reduced public transportation.

Experts say the expected shipment could produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel – enough to feed Cuba’s daily needs for nine or 10 days.

Island-wide power outages have left Cubans struggling for years, and fuel and utility shortages have crippled hospitals and limited public transport.

Cuba has long been at the center of political tension between the US and Russia, dating back decades. Mr. Trump on Sunday dismissed the idea that allowing the boat to reach Cuba would help Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It doesn’t help him. He loses one oil boat, that’s all. If he wants to do that, and if other countries want to do it, it doesn’t bother me too much,” said Mr. “It will have no effect. Cuba is finished. They have a bad regime. They have a very bad and corrupt leadership and whether they get the oil tanker, it doesn’t matter.”

He added: “I’d rather let it in, be it Russia or somebody else because people need heat and cool and all that stuff.”

Mr. Trump has repeatedly hinted at further US action against Cuba, saying several times, including Sunday night, that the Caribbean island is “next.”

“Cuba is in chaos. It’s a failing country, and they will follow,” said Mr. Trump. “In the short term, it will fail, and we will be there to help. We will be there to help our great Cuban Americans who are being deported from Cuba.”

The US embargo has also prompted citizens outside Cuba to take matters into their own hands, embarking on dangerous journeys to bring aid.

Two sailboats which left Mexico carrying aid to Cuba as part of the Nuestra América Convoy arrived in Havana on Saturday afternoon after becoming lost following their departure on March 20. Adnaan Stumo, the aid team’s coordinator, said they were “never in serious danger,” but were forced to take a longer route to avoid bad weather.

A Mexican naval plane found the boats 80 kilometers northwest of Havana, Cuba, the navy said on X. The navy then helped escort the boats to Havana.

“We come with a simple but powerful message: solidarity with the Cuban people does not stop at borders. It crosses oceans,” said Stumo, an American citizen. “In the past week, our boats have encountered difficult conditions at sea, where we have lost contact with convoy coordinators and maritime authorities alike.”