Former President Trump stated that he does not object to a Russian oil tanker delivering its cargo to Cuba, thereby easing the blockade that has plunged the island into an energy crisis.

Reporters aboard Air Force One asked Trump about a New York Times report that the United States would allow the tanker, filled with crude oil, to reach Cuba.

"We have a tanker out there. We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload, because they need…they have to survive," Trump said, showing a pragmatic stance on the Cuban situation.

Trump stated that he is not worried about helping Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has already seen a jump in oil and gas revenue amid the war in Iran.

"It doesn’t help him. He loses one boatload of oil, that’s all it is. If he wants to do that, and if other countries want to do it, that doesn’t bother me much. It’s not going to have an impact," Trump explained.

Additionally, Trump added that Cuba is "finished," referring to its regime and leadership, and that allowing oil in is a necessity for the Cuban people.

According to the New York Times report, the tanker is owned by the Russian government and is carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of oil.

MarineTraffic, a ship-data provider, estimated that the tanker could reach Cuba by Monday night.

Cuba is in desperate need of oil and gas, as the Trump administration has been allowing some energy sales to private companies, but has effectively cut off supply to the government, which runs hospitals, schools, and public services.

The island has experienced repeated blackouts in recent weeks and is in an increasingly deep economic crisis.

Trump has been ambiguous about his end game in squeezing Cuba’s communist leaders, although earlier this month he suggested he would "take" Cuba.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is leading talks with the Castro regime, has indicated that the government needs to change, but not abruptly.

Cuban officials announced steps to open the country to foreign investment earlier this month, but Rubio considered that they were not sufficient.

Florida Republicans are leading a push for regime change, but the Trump administration has signaled that it might be willing to work with parts of the Castro regime, as it has with remnants of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.