LIMA, Peru – When diplomatic and economic tensions between the United States and Castroism are at their highest point in the last decade, the Russian ambassador to Cuba, Víktor Koronell, assured that Moscow would continue sending oil to the Island.
“Russian oil has been supplied to Cuba on numerous occasions in recent years. We anticipate that this practice will continue,” Koronell declared during an interview. with the agency RIA Novosti.
The ambassador pointed out that bilateral relations between Russia and Cuba remain “active” in “almost all areas”, highlighting political dialogue, the development of commercial and economic cooperation, and the expansion of cultural and educational collaboration.
“Cuba has been facing a serious shortage of oil and oil products for several years (…) naturally, the interruption of supply from Venezuela has aggravated this situation,” Koronell acknowledged.
This Friday, the Havana regime announced the implementation of a series of subsistence measures in the face of the energy collapse, after Donald Trump’s administration warned of tariffs for countries that sent oil to the Castro dictatorship.
In addition to the austerity plan, the Russian ambassador commented that the Cuban Government is simultaneously “looking for alternative external partners” to ensure fuel supplies.
In this context, Víktor Koronell ratified the Kremlin’s support for its main ally in the hemisphere. “Russia condemns the economic and military pressure on sister Cuba, with which we maintain a strategic partnership (…) We will continue to provide our friends with the necessary political and material support,” he stated.
Tensions between the United States and Havana
The words of the Russian diplomat come in the midst of a scene of strong conflict between Washington and Havana. In recent weeks, the US administration has intensified pressure on the Cuban Government, announcing tariffs and the threat of sanctions against countries that supply oil to the Island, within the framework of a policy of isolation and economic punishment.
US President Donald Trump publicly stated: “We are negotiating with the Cuban leaders at this moment,” in reference to contacts that, according to him, seek to explore ways of understanding, although he has not offered concrete details or confirmed formal negotiations between the governments.
Although Washington has alluded to contacts, Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío on Tuesday ruled out the existence of structured negotiations with the United States and stated that the exchanges between both countries have not transcended basic contacts, denying that there is a formal dialogue.
In particular, Fernandez de Cossío He rejected that issues such as the release of political prisoners are part of any dialogue agenda with Washington.
Mexico has been at the center of the dispute due to the fuel shipments it has made to Cuba in recent years. The Mexican Government has defended these shipments as humanitarian aid, while the United States has pressed for them to be suspended, remembering that they reinforce the Cuban Government.
Last week, Claudia Sheinbaum avoided confirming whether oil shipments to Cuba have been stopped or are about to be suspended. He limited himself to saying that it was a “sovereign decision” of both the Mexican State and Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), in a context marked by reports on the cancellation of a shipment and for the hardening of the United States’ position regarding energy cooperation with the island.
