Putin meets Top Cuban Diplomat amid U.S. Blockade
Cuba is grappling with one of its worst energy crises in years after an oil embargo and other US restrictions sharply reduced fuel imports and exacerbated shortages.
- The island has experienced severe blackouts and fuel scarcity as a result of Washington’s pressure campaign, including threats of tariffs on countries that continue to supply oil.
Russia hosts Cuban foreign minister and urges U.S. not to blockade Cuba
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian top officials hosted the Cuban foreign minister for talks in Moscow on Wednesday and spoke out in support of the island nation as it faces blackouts and severe fuel shortages worsened by a U.S oil embargo.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and later in the day with President Vladimir Putin.
Lavrov urged the U.S. to refrain from blockading Cuba, which has struggled to import oil for its power plants and refineries after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened any nation that sold oil to Cuba with tariffs.
“Together with most members of the global community, we are calling on the U.S. to show common sense, take a responsible approach and refrain from its plans of sea blockade,” Lavrov said during the talks with Rodriguez.
Cuban officials are visiting their counterparts in Russia, amid reports that Moscow is considering humanitarian fuel shipments amid a U.S. oil blockade. The AP’s Jennifer King reports.
He promised that Moscow will “continue supporting Cuba and its people in protecting the country’s sovereignty and security.”. . .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier on Wednesday noted that “Russia, like many other countries, has consistently spoken against the blockade of the island.”
“We have our relations with Cuba, and we value these relations very much,” Peskov told reporters. “And we intend to further develop them — of course, during difficult times, by providing appropriate assistance to our friends.”
Asked whether sending fuel to Cuba could derail a recent warming of ties with Washington, Peskov responded that “we don’t think these issues are linked.”
Russia consistently opposes blockade of Cuba — Kremlin - Russian Politics & Diplomacy
Putin condemned the US restrictions on Cuba’s economy as “completely unacceptable,” saying Russia opposes them “clearly and unequivocally.”
According to the Kremlin, Parrilla thanked Russia for its “extraordinary and unwavering solidarity” and support during challenging times.
- Last week, the Russian Embassy in Havana said Moscow was preparing to send a delivery of oil and petroleum products to Cuba to help address the shortages.
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned renewed US pressure on Havana as an attempt at
Last month, US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in relations with Cuba, accusing its socialist government of aligning with “hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors,” and saying economic pressure would force Cuban leadership to “come to us and want to make a deal.”
Trump described Cuba’s ties with Russia, China, Iran, the Palestinian armed group Hamas, and the Lebanese-based group Hezbollah as posing a national security threat.
Miguel Diaz-Canel has denounced Trump’s demands and said he was ready for dialogue “on the basis of equality and respect.”
Suffocating an Island: What the US Blockade Is Doing to Cuba
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