The vessel, the Anatoly Kolodkin, operating under U.S. sanctions, is the first Russian oil delivery to Cuba since January. Its arrival follows a decision by Donald Trump to permit the cargo on humanitarian grounds, avoiding a potential standoff with Moscow while easing acute shortages that have led to blackouts and fuel rationing.

Residents expressed cautious optimism as the tanker approached the Supertanker Base in Matanzas, a key energy hub east of Havana. Many said the shipment would provide temporary respite but fall short of addressing systemic shortages.

Cuba has faced repeated nationwide blackouts since 2024, alongside persistent scarcities of fuel, food and medicine. The latest delivery is expected to be processed over several weeks before refined products enter circulation.

Energy expert Jorge Pinon of the University of Texas at Austin estimated the crude could yield around 250,000 barrels of diesel, enough to meet demand for roughly 12 days, underscoring the limited scale of the relief. Fome Cubans welcomed the shipment as urgently needed support.

Others described it as insufficient given the depth of the crisis, calling it a symbolic gesture with minimal economic impact.The government is expected to prioritize allocation between electricity generation and transportation, both critical sectors strained by fuel shortages.

Analysts say the oil is unlikely to be used in Cuba’s aging thermoelectric plants, which rely primarily on domestically produced crude.Russia signaled its continued backing for Havana, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating Moscow viewed assistance to Cuba as a responsibility.

He added that Russia and the United States had been in contact regarding the shipment.Washington maintained that its broader sanctions policy remains unchanged.

The White House described the waiver as a case-by-case humanitarian decision, even as Trump reiterated criticism of Cuba’s leadership and downplayed the shipment’s long-term impact.Cuba’s energy outlook has worsened since the disruption of supplies from Venezuela earlier this year, intensifying reliance on external partners.

Efforts to secure alternative shipments, including discussions involving Mexico, have yet to yield sustained flows sufficient to stabilize the grid.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Washington would not oppose a shipment from Russia or other countries if intended to alleviate shortages. “If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not,” he said.

Shipping data cited in reports shows a tanker carrying roughly 730,000 barrels of oil nearing Cuba’s eastern coast, with an expected arrival in Matanzas. The vessel is expected to deliver fuel that could yield about 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to meet the country’s demand for more than a week.

The tanker, identified as the Anatoly Kolodkin, is under sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom following the war in Ukraine.

Trump’s remarks come despite his administration’s intensified efforts to restrict oil flows to Cuba in a bid to pressure its government. He has previously threatened punitive tariffs on third countries supplying oil to the island.

The blockade has contributed to widespread fuel shortages, with reports of prolonged blackouts and disruptions to public transport and healthcare services across Cuba.Cuba has long been a focal point of strategic competition between the United States and Russia.

Trump dismissed suggestions that allowing the shipment would benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the delivery would have limited impact beyond addressing immediate needs.

He said he would prefer allowing fuel deliveries to ease hardship for civilians, citing the need for electricity, heating and cooling as essential services.