Trump has authorized oil shipments to Cuba from Russia and other countries
U.S. President Donald Trump has made it clear that Washington does not object to countries, including Russia, supplying oil to Cuba.
This was reported during a broadcast from the White House.
During a press briefing, Trump was asked whether it was true that the U.S. would allow a Russian tanker to deliver oil to the island.
“We have a tanker there. If anyone wants to deliver oil—we’re not against it; they need to survive. I said, ‘If any country wants to send oil to Cuba—I have no objections,’” the U.S. president replied.
When asked whether this helps Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, Trump noted that the Russian dictator is losing one shipment and won’t profit from it. According to the American leader, there will be no benefit for Cuba either.
“Let them send it if they want. It won’t affect the situation. Cuba is essentially finished as a state. They have bad leadership. And one oil shipment won’t change anything,” Trump emphasized.
In summary, he added that he would have preferred to allow this shipment because “people need heat and electricity.”
Prior to this, a tanker carrying Russian diesel fuel, which was presumably headed for Cuba, changed its destination to Trinidad and Tobago after the U.S. Treasury Department reiterated the ban on fuel shipments to the island. This decision was part of U.S. pressure on Russian energy supplies to Caribbean countries.
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev stated on March 25 that Moscow is supplying fuel to Cuba as humanitarian aid.
