Speaking to journalists en route to Washington, Trump said he has "no problem" with other countries sending fuel to Cuba, even if it's Russia. "If they want to do it, I'm not concerned," he said, downplaying the geopolitical impact of the operation. The tanker, carrying around 730,000 barrels of crude oil, was off the east of the island and was scheduled to dock in the city of Matanzas.
Cuban state media also anticipated its arrival, although authorities did not officially confirm the information. The island is facing widespread blackouts, fuel shortages, and a severe crisis in basic services such as hospitals and public transportation, exacerbated by Washington's pressure policies. Trump defended his stance citing humanitarian reasons, while reiterating his criticisms of the Cuban government, which he described as corrupt. He also rejected that this measure benefits Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that it only involves the loss of an oil shipment.