How Trump’s Russian Diesel Could End Up in Cuba Instead

The Agioi Fanendes originally listed New York as its destination, but that changed after U.S. lawmakers warned companies, banks, and ports about handling Russian diesel. The vessel was carrying about 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel from Primorsk.

Its tracking status changed to “for orders” after it was reported idling near Skagen, Denmark. In shipping, that status means the vessel has not declared a new port and is waiting for instructions from its owner, charterer, or cargo interests.

The change matters because the tanker’s U.S. delivery faced growing political and legal pressure. Senator Richard Blumenthal demanded that the owner recall the vessel if it still intended to deliver in the United States. With New York removed and U.S. banks and ports warned away, the tanker may be redirected elsewhere.

The Agioi Fanendes could end up in Cuba if its owner or cargo interests assign the tanker a new destination. Its “for orders” status shows that no port is currently declared, so New York is no longer the listed endpoint.

Cuba is a possible alternative because the island ran out of diesel and fuel oil in May. The article also reports that two Russian tankers reached Cuba this spring despite the U.S. blockade. Those events show that Russian fuel has already reached the island under similar political conditions.

The potential rerouting follows warnings aimed at U.S. banks, ports, and shipping companies. Trump said in March that he had “no problem” with a sanctioned Russian tanker bringing oil to Cuba. The article does not confirm that the Agioi Fanendes will go there; it identifies Cuba only as a possible destination.

The reported scale is 924,000 barrels of Russian diesel across three tankers traveling toward the United States. That makes the dispute larger than a single ship’s cargo and raises questions about several potential deliveries.

The three vessels are the Agioi Fanendes, the Leruo, and the Talisman. The Agioi Fanendes left Primorsk with about 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel. Kpler, a shipping and commodities data provider cited in the article, put the combined cargoes at 924,000 barrels.

The figure could grow if another tanker sails as expected. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said a fourth tanker was expected to depart on October 28. The article also reports that the Leruo and Talisman are reportedly under Western sanctions, adding another layer of pressure around the shipments.

General License 135 is a Treasury authorization allowing transactions involving Russian diesel through April 7, 2027. It is the legal permission supporters of the shipments may rely on for moving the cargo through international trade channels.

Lawmakers say that permission cannot override the 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act. Senator Richard Blumenthal argued that the law bars the cargo regardless of the Treasury license. In his words, the President may facilitate the transaction, but only Congress can make it legally valid.

That disagreement creates uncertainty for everyone involved. Treasury’s license suggests the transactions may proceed under executive authorization, while lawmakers warn that the underlying statute still prohibits them. The article does not resolve which interpretation would prevail, but it shows why banks, ports, and shipping companies face heightened legal concerns.

The main risk is potential civil and criminal liability for parties that help receive, finance, insure, or process the Russian diesel in the United States. Bipartisan lawmakers warned banks, including Goldman Sachs, and port authorities about that exposure.

The warning could affect the tanker’s owner, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, as well as its insurer, charterer, seller, buyer, and terminal operator. Blumenthal demanded that the owner identify those parties and disclose any instructions received from Treasury or another federal agency. Ports in Houston, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, and New York/New Jersey were also alerted.

The article does not state that any party has been charged. Instead, the warnings could discourage banks and ports from participating. Malta’s sanctions unit is also seeking price-cap attestations from the tanker’s owners, adding further compliance pressure around the cargo.

The article links Cuba’s fuel shortage to the island running out of diesel and fuel oil in May. It does not give a detailed explanation for why supplies ran out, so the stated fact is simply that Cuba is short of both fuels.

Despite the U.S. blockade, two Russian tankers reached Cuba’s coast this spring. Their arrival shows that Russian fuel has previously entered the island even amid restrictions. This history helps explain why Cuba is being considered as a possible destination for the Agioi Fanendes.

The article also notes that Trump said in March he had “no problem” with a sanctioned Russian tanker bringing oil to Cuba. That statement contrasts with the warnings surrounding delivery to U.S. ports. The Agioi Fanendes could therefore be redirected, but the article does not confirm that Cuba will receive its cargo.

Ultra-low-sulfur diesel, or ULSD, is a refined petroleum fuel containing very little sulfur. It is made from crude oil but is not crude oil itself. Crude is the raw petroleum extracted from the ground; diesel is one of the usable products created after refining.

The Agioi Fanendes was carrying about 40,000 metric tons of ULSD from Primorsk. The cargo is therefore a finished fuel shipment, not a tankerload of unprocessed crude. Its low sulfur content distinguishes it from fuels with higher sulfur levels and supports cleaner combustion under fuel standards.

Diesel moves through international tanker markets because it is a liquid bulk commodity traded between regions with different supplies and needs. Product tankers can carry refined fuels from export terminals to import ports. In this case, the intended route linked Russian supply with the U.S. market, although the destination later became uncertain.