Photo: John Cleveley the Elder | Public domain | Wikimedia Commons
Trump Says He Has ‘No Problem’ With Sanctioned Russian Tanker Delivering Oil to Blockaded Cuba Amid Energy Crisis
Aboard Air Force One on March 29, 2026, President Trump said he has “no problem” with the Russian‑flagged, U.S./EU/UK‑sanctioned tanker Anatoly Kolodkin — carrying roughly 730,000 barrels of crude (experts estimate about 180,000 barrels could become diesel, enough for nine to ten days of Cuban demand) — delivering oil to Cuba and that he told officials such shipments are acceptable “whether it’s Russia or not” because “Cuba has to survive.” The move, which tracking data and Russian officials said saw the ship off Cuba’s eastern tip and bound for/arrive at Matanzas, marks a notable exception to the administration’s blockade strategy aimed at pressuring Havana and was described by Moscow as coordinated in advance.
📌 Key Facts
- On Sunday night, March 29, 2026, aboard Air Force One returning to Washington, President Trump said he has "no problem" with a Russian tanker or other countries sending "a boatload" of oil to Cuba, adding he had "told them" such shipments are acceptable and that "Cuba has to survive."
- Trump characterized Cuba as "finished" with "very bad and corrupt leadership," said one tanker "is not going to matter" for the regime, and framed allowing the shipment as providing fuel for civilians' needs (heat/cooling, hospitals, transport).
- The Russian‑flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, sanctioned by the U.S., EU and U.K. over the Ukraine war, was carrying about 730,000 barrels of crude oil; experts estimate roughly 180,000 barrels could be diesel — enough for about 9–10 days of Cuban demand.
- Tracking data placed the Anatoly Kolodkin off Cuba’s eastern tip and slated to arrive at Matanzas; Russia’s Transport Ministry subsequently reported the vessel had arrived at Matanzas carrying about 730,000 barrels described as "humanitarian supplies."
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia discussed the shipment with the U.S. in advance and described aiding Cuba as its "duty."
- The U.S. has temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian oil shipments to stabilize markets amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions from the Iran war, even as the administration has enforced an aggressive oil blockade on Cuba — having blocked Venezuelan oil after the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro and threatened punitive measures that forced Mexico to halt shipments.
- Observers and critics say allowing a sanctioned Russian tanker through the Cuba blockade highlights an inconsistency in U.S. sanctions enforcement and fits a pattern of the Trump administration downplaying or easing oil‑related restrictions on Russia despite tensions over Russian support for Iran.
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 30, 2026
1:36 PM
Trump says he has 'no problem' with sanctioned Russian oil tanker bringing relief to Cuba despite blockade
New information:
- Confirms via Russia’s Transport Ministry that the Anatoly Kolodkin has arrived at Cuba’s Matanzas port with about 730,000 barrels of oil described as 'humanitarian supplies.'
- Adds Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s statement that Russia discussed the shipment with the U.S. in advance and views aiding Cuba as its 'duty.'
- Includes fuller context on Trump’s blockade policy having 'brought [Cuba] to its knees' with island‑wide blackouts, fuel shortages crippling hospitals and public transport, and expert estimates that the cargo could yield about 180,000 barrels of diesel covering 9–10 days of Cuban demand.
- Quotes Trump dismissing any strategic benefit to Vladimir Putin, saying Russia 'loses one boatload of oil' and calling Cuba 'finished' with a 'bad and corrupt' regime.
- Notes Trump explicitly saying he told officials that if other countries want to send oil to Cuba 'I have no problem whether it's Russia or not,' signaling a broader potential carve‑out from the blockade.
12:58 PM
Trump gives Russia yet another pass, says it’s ‘fine’ for Putin to break Cuba oil blockade
New information:
- MS NOW piece situates Trump’s Air Force One remarks within a broader pattern of Trump publicly signaling that "Cuba is next" and talking about "taking" or "freeing" Cuba, framing regime change as an aim following the Iran war.
- The article emphasizes that the administration has threatened to punish other countries for supplying oil to Cuba, making the apparent exemption for a Russian tanker a pointed inconsistency in U.S. sanctions enforcement.
- It highlights that major outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post have reported the U.S. is allowing the Russian tanker through, although MS NOW notes it has not independently verified those reports beyond Trump’s on‑the‑record confirmation that he has "no problem" with such shipments.
- The piece ties this episode to a pattern in which, despite evidence that Russia is providing intelligence support to Iran against U.S. forces, Trump has repeatedly downplayed or been indifferent to that Russian role while easing some oil‑related sanctions on Moscow.
5:37 AM
Trump says he has 'no problem' with Russian oil tanker bringing relief to Cuba despite blockade
New information:
- Article confirms the setting and timing of Trump’s remarks: aboard Air Force One on Sunday night as he returned to Washington.
- NPR/AP piece reiterates that Trump explicitly framed the decision as allowing 'a boatload' of oil because Cubans 'have to survive,' and said he 'told them' he has no problem with a country sending some oil in 'whether it's Russia or not.'
- The story emphasizes Trump’s characterization of Cuba as 'finished' with 'very bad and corrupt leadership,' while arguing that one tanker of oil 'is not going to matter' for the regime even as he prefers letting it in for civilians’ heat and cooling needs.
- NPR/AP confirms tracking data placing the Anatoly Kolodkin just off Cuba’s eastern tip Sunday night, slated to arrive in Matanzas by Tuesday, and notes Cuban state media journalists reported on the ship’s expected arrival.
- It restates that the tanker is sanctioned by the U.S., EU and U.K. over the Ukraine war and underscores that Trump has used an aggressive oil blockade to pursue regime‑change pressure on Havana, with blackouts and fuel shortages crippling hospitals and public transport.
5:28 AM
US allows Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba amid blockade as Trump says island ‘has to survive’
New information:
- Fox piece confirms via New York Times sourcing that the Russian‑flagged Anatoly Kolodkin is carrying about 730,000 barrels of crude oil from Primorsk, Russia, toward Cuba and was just off the island’s eastern tip on Sunday.
- Article notes the tanker is expected to dock at Cuba’s Matanzas port if it stays on course, adding destination detail absent from the earlier summary.
- Trump is quoted saying Cuba 'has to survive' and that he has 'no problem' with any country, including Russia, sending oil to Cuba right now.
- Context is added that the U.S. has temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian oil shipments more broadly to stabilize markets amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions from the Iran war.
- The story recounts that after the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration blocked all Venezuelan oil to Cuba and threatened punitive tariffs on third‑country suppliers, forcing Mexico to halt shipments, underlining how sharp a departure this exception is.
5:05 AM
Trump says he has 'no problem' with Russian oil tanker bringing relief to Cuba despite blockade
New information:
- Confirms Trump’s remarks came Sunday night, March 29, 2026, aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington.
- Includes direct quotes where Trump says he has 'no problem' with the Russian tanker or other countries sending 'a boatload' of oil to Cuba and that he 'told them' such shipments are acceptable.
- Specifies the tanker is carrying around 730,000 barrels of oil, with experts estimating about 180,000 barrels of diesel—enough for nine or ten days of Cuba’s demand.
- Details that the vessel Anatoly Kolodkin is sanctioned by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom over the Ukraine war.
- Quotes Trump dismissing any benefit to Vladimir Putin ('He loses one boatload of oil') and declaring 'Cuba’s finished' with 'very bad and corrupt leadership.'