Why Did the U.S. Allow a Russian Oil Tanker Through Its Cuba Blockade? NYT | Top Stories By: Emma Bubola and David C. Adams 31 March 2026 at 03:07 The ship’s arrival would bring Cuba some badly needed fuel. It also marks a shift from U.S. efforts to block oil shipments and pressure the Cuban government. © Planet LabsA satellite image taken last week of the port and oil terminal at the entrance of the Bay of Matanzas in northwestern Cuba.