Russian tanker unloads oil in Cuba after three-month pause

This is the first major delivery since the US restrictions imposed by the Donald Trump administration.

The Russian oil tanker Anatolyi Kolodkin began unloading at the Matanzas terminal in Cuba, Reuters reported.

The Russian-flagged vessel delivered about 700,000 barrels of oil and docked at the country’s largest fuel hub. This was the first significant delivery of energy to the island in three months.

The US said it had approved the delivery for humanitarian reasons, given Cuba’s deep energy crisis. The country is facing prolonged power outages, as well as problems with its transportation system and healthcare system.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the country had not received oil tankers for three months, which had significantly worsened the energy supply situation.

The Kremlin said Moscow would continue to support Cuba with energy supplies. At the same time, the administration of President Donald Trump emphasized that further supplies of Russian oil will be considered on an individual basis.

Meanwhile, as USM wrote, the US Treasury Department lifted sanctions against three Russian ships: one of them was involved in grain theft.