Russia to Maintain Assistance for Cuba Following Oil Shipment Arrival

Russian Ministry Spokesperson Calls for US to Lift Energy Blockade on Cuba

Moscow has reiterated its call on the United States to lift its energy blockade on Cuba, following a recent shipment of crude oil from Russia. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the request during a weekly briefing on Wednesday.

According to Zakharova, Russia will continue to provide assistance to Cuba, citing the country’s importance as a “closest friend and partner in the Caribbean”. The Russian flag tanker Anatoly Kolodkin arrived at the Bay of Matanzas, carrying 730,000 barrels of oil, after a three-week journey from Russia. This shipment marks the first delivery of crude oil to Cuba in three months.

Cuba has been facing an energy crisis since January, when US forces abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, depriving the country of one of its main oil suppliers. The energy shortage has led to frequent blackouts and disruptions to essential services such as hospitals, public transportation, and farm production.

The shipment of oil from Russia is seen as a significant relief for Cuba’s government, which relies heavily on imports to sustain its energy grid. Experts estimate that the 180,000 barrels of diesel produced by this shipment could meet Cuba’s daily demand for nine or ten days.

In response to the shipment, US President Donald Trump stated that he had “no problem” with Russia sending oil to the island, citing humanitarian reasons. However, his comments were met with criticism from Moscow, which has historically maintained close ties with Havana and criticized Washington for blocking fuel deliveries to the island.

Source: Al Jazeera