Russia has asserted that it will continue to provide assistance to Cuba.
Speaking at a weekly briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova described Cuba as a close partner of Russia in the region.
“Cuba is our closest friend and partner in the Caribbean, and we don’t have the right to abandon it. Assistance to Cuba will continue.”
Maria Zakharova
Zakharova’s remarks at the weekly briefing came a day after a Russian-flagged tanker provided the island nation with its first shipment of crude oil in three months.
United States President Donald Trump’s administration allowed the Anatoly Kolodkin to proceed despite an ongoing US energy blockade.
The Aframax tanker entered the Bay of Matanzas; the country’s largest supertanker and fuel storage port, carrying 730,000 barrels of oil after a three-week journey from Russia.
Cubans, including Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, cheered the ship’s arrival. “Our gratitude to the Government and People of Russia for all the support we are receiving. A valuable shipment that arrives amidst the complex energy situation we are facing,” de la O Levy wrote on social media.
Cuba has been suffering from an energy crisis since January, when US forces abducted Venezuelan President and Cuban ally Nicolas Maduro. His removal deprived Cuba of one of its main oil suppliers.
The energy crisis has led to frequent blackouts across the country of 10 million people and brought hospitals, public transportation, and farm production to the brink of collapse.
Trump said on Sunday that he had “no problem” with Russia sending oil to the island, saying that he had allowed it to pass through for humanitarian reasons.
“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.”
Donald Trump
The fuel gives Cuba’s government breathing room amid growing pressure from the Trump administration.
Cuba produces barely 40 percent of its required fuel and relies on imports to sustain its energy grid. Experts say the shipment could produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to meet Cuba’s daily demand for nine or 10 days.
Russia Demands US Lift Blockade On Cuba
Zakharova also said that Russia stands in solidarity with Cuba and demands that the US lift its “blockade on an independent sovereign state.”
Moscow historically maintains close ties to Havana and has criticised Washington for blocking fuel deliveries to the island.
The comments highlight Russia’s continued political and economic backing for Cuba at a time when the island nation has been grappling with energy constraints and economic difficulties.
Cuba has long been subject to US sanctions, which Havana and its allies have repeatedly criticized as a major obstacle to the country’s economic development. Russian officials have frequently voiced support for Cuba and called for an end to the sanctions.
Moscow’s assistance, including energy supplies, has been viewed as a key source of support for Cuba as the country seeks to stabilize its economy and maintain fuel supplies for power generation and transportation.
Russia’s latest oil shipment signals continued cooperation between the two countries, reinforcing a partnership that has historically included political, economic, and energy ties.
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