Trump Says ‘No Problem’ as Russian Oil Heads to Blockaded Cuba - What Changed?

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he has “no problem” with a Russian oil tanker delivering fuel to Cuba, as the island grapples with a severe energy crisis triggered by a US-led oil blockade.

Speaking to reporters while returning to Washington, Trump said the shipment was necessary for humanitarian reasons. “We have a tanker out there. We don’t mind somebody getting a boatload—they need it to survive,” he said.

,When asked about reports that the US had allowed the tanker to proceed, Trump confirmed: “If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem-whether it’s Russia or not.

”, ,Shipping data shows the tanker, carrying around 730,000 barrels of oil, was positioned off Cuba’s eastern coast on Sunday night and is expected to dock in Matanzas by Tuesday.

Cuban state media also reported the vessel’s imminent arrival, though officials have yet to comment. ,The development comes despite Washington’s tough stance on Havana.

Under Trump, the US has intensified pressure on Cuba, restricting key oil supplies in an effort to force political change. ,However, the blockade has taken a heavy toll on civilians.

The country is facing widespread blackouts, fuel shortages, and severe disruptions to healthcare and public transport systems.

,Cuba has long been a focal point of geopolitical rivalry between the US and Russia, a dynamic that continues to shape developments around the island.