Moscow Moves to Supply Havana with Oil Amid Severe Energy Crisis
Russian newspaper “Izvestia” reported today, citing diplomatic sources, that Russia will soon provide Cuba with oil and petroleum products as part of “humanitarian assistance,” at a time when the island is facing a severe fuel shortage amid American pressure.
The newspaper quoted sources at the Russian embassy in Cuba, stating: “To our knowledge, Russia will soon provide oil and petroleum products to Cuba as humanitarian aid.”
Cuba is experiencing its worst energy crisis in years, after Venezuela halted oil supplies under pressure from the United States, which threatened to impose tariffs on any country selling oil to Havana. The Cuban government also announced a series of emergency measures to address the crisis, including reducing public sector workdays to four a week and implementing remote work, alongside imposing restrictions on fuel sales.
As oil shipments from Venezuela were interrupted following the detention of President Nicolas Maduro in early January, the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba. Mexico, which had supplied Cuba with oil since 2023, also announced a suspension of its supplies.
The fuel crisis has led several airlines to suspend their flights to Cuba due to difficulties in refueling aircraft, increasing pressure on the island during this critical phase.
