“Cuba’s finished, they have a bad regime, they have very bad and corrupt leadership, and whether or not they get a boat of oil it’s not going to matter,” stated US President Donald Trump following the recent football match between the Dominican Republic and Cuba, which ended in a 1-1 draw on March 29, 2026.
The match took place against the backdrop of a significant energy and economic crisis in Cuba. The island nation has been struggling with regular power outages, largely due to aging power plants that are unable to meet the demand of its 9.6 million residents.
In January 2026, Cuba lost its main regional ally and oil supplier when US forces captured then-Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. This event has exacerbated Cuba’s already dire situation, leading to an urgent need for diesel fuel.
Trump remarked, “If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem with that, whether it’s Russia or not.” His comments come as a Russian tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, is expected to deliver 730,000 barrels of crude oil to Cuba, which could potentially be converted to 250,000 barrels of diesel fuel.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has imposed emergency measures to conserve fuel, including strict rationing of gasoline. These measures reflect the severity of the crisis, as the diesel from the Russian shipment could only cover the nation’s demand for approximately 12.5 days.
The urgent need for diesel was emphasized by Jorge Pinon, who stated, “The urgent need today in Cuba is diesel.” This highlights the critical situation that the Cuban government is facing as it attempts to stabilize the economy and provide for its citizens.
As the Dominican Republic and Cuba continue to navigate their respective challenges, the outcome of the football match serves as a reminder of the broader issues at play in the region. The draw may have been a moment of sporting competition, but the underlying economic and political tensions remain unresolved.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact impact of the Russian oil delivery on Cuba’s energy crisis, but the situation continues to evolve as both nations look to address their pressing needs.
