MOSCOW, Feb 9 - The Kremlin said on Monday that Cuba's fuel situation was critical and attributed many of the difficulties confronting the island to U.S. attempts to cut off oil supplies. Cuba has disclosed measures to protect essential services and to ration fuel as it grapples with a deteriorating energy picture.
Official response from Moscow
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "The situation in Cuba is indeed critical. We are aware of this. We are maintaining intensive contacts with our Cuban friends through diplomatic and other channels." He said that the United States was employing tactics that were "suffocating" the Cuban economy and that those tactics were causing substantial hardship.
Peskov added: "The suffocating tactics employed by the United States are indeed causing many difficulties for the country. We are discussing with our Cuban friends possible ways to resolve these problems, or at least to provide all possible assistance." His remarks came in response to questions about reported shortages of jet fuel and whether such shortages might complicate departures by Russian tourists from the Caribbean nation.
Havana's measures and Russia's position
Cuba has publicly outlined plans to ration fuel and to prioritize supplies for essential services as part of efforts to manage the crisis. The communist-run government has stood firm despite a U.S. campaign to limit oil shipments to the island after declaring Cuba "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security.
Russia, which has long-standing ties with Cuba, said it was engaging with Havana through diplomatic and other channels. Russia's ambassador to Cuba, Viktor Coronelli, told the state RIA news agency last week that Moscow had repeatedly supplied oil to Cuba in recent years and would continue to do so.
Diplomatic context
The Kremlin's statements came at a time when Moscow is attempting to repair strained relations with Washington. The Russian government noted that U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to broker an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, and Moscow framed its unhappiness with Washington's treatment of Cuba within that broader diplomatic environment.
Implications highlighted in comments
Peskov characterized the situation as one that requires active engagement and potential assistance from Russia to mitigate the immediate hardships in Cuba. He pointed specifically to reported jet fuel shortages and the potential impact on travel as an example of the concrete disruptions facing the island.
Beyond immediate operational challenges, the exchanges between Moscow and Havana underscore how energy supply restrictions and diplomatic pressure intersect in creating broader economic and logistical strains for countries reliant on external fuel shipments.
Key facts reiterated
- Cuba has unveiled plans to protect essential services and ration fuel as it navigates a deepening energy crisis.
- The Kremlin described the situation as critical and blamed U.S. efforts to cut off oil supply for causing many of the island's difficulties.
- Russia says it is maintaining intensive contacts with Cuba and has supplied oil to the island in recent years, with Moscow indicating it would continue to provide assistance.