Russia Maintains Ambiguity About Alleged Oil Shipments To Cuba, Which Would Need To Evade U.S. Blockade

Russia is maintaining ambiguity about whether it is sending fuel to Cuba, a move that would mean evading an ongoing U.S. blockade.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the government is "in constant contact with the Cuban leadership, with our Cuban friends," and "indeed, discussing with them possible options for assisting Cuba."

It did not clarify whether that means sending oil, but there are currently two tankers in the Atlantic that are seemingly heading to the island while carrying Russian oil.

The Anatoly Kolodkin, which has been sanctioned by the U.S., the UK and the EU is carrying 730,000 barrels of Russian oil and is heading to Matanzas.

The vessel joined the Sea Horse, which this week resumed navigation to the island after diverting course in February. The vessel is believed to be carrying some 200,000 barrels of gas oil.

Such a move would likely spark a confrontation with the Trump administration. Last week, the Treasury Department loosened sanctions on Russian oil to reduce energy prices amid the Iran war, but ensured Cuba is still unable to access such a source of energy.

Concretely, the Treasury Department added Cuba to the list of countries restricted from taking Russian oil. It updated another license issued last week, when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. would allow selling Russian oil loaded on tankers on or before March 12. The license also impacts Iran, North Korea and regions of Ukraine occupied by Russia.

Speaking to The Washington Post Douglas Farah, president of the national security consulting firm IBI Consultants, said that Russia's standing has been "seriously hurt by its lack of willingness to defend Maduro at all, and playing not a visible role in the Iran conflict," meaning that if Moscow feels like it can "get away" with sending oil to Cuba, "they would probably love to."

However, he expressed doubt about the possibility. "I seriously doubt, even with the U.S. being very distracted in Iran, that Russia would test the military resolve of the United States, especially given Trump's, you know, ongoing behavior."