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In a context of rising diplomatic and economic tensions, the Russian government has reaffirmed its decision to maintain oil supplies to Cuba, despite the threats of sanctions issued by the Donald Trump administration against countries that send oil to the island.
In an interview with the Russian media RIA, the Russian ambassador to Cuba, Viktor Coronelli, stated that the supply of oil to Cuba "will continue."
In response to the question of whether the Cuban authorities have contacted Russia for local supplies of Russian oil, he answered:
"Cuba has been facing a severe shortage of oil and petroleum products for several years. Naturally, the interruption of supply from Venezuela has exacerbated this situation. The island is working to increase oil production, including the involvement of our state-owned company, Zarubezhneft, and is also seeking alternative external partners. Russian oil has been supplied to Cuba on several occasions in recent years. We anticipate that this practice will continue.
Coronelli emphasized that Moscow's energy support is neither incidental nor improvised, but rather a sustained policy.
This decision is particularly significant in a context where the Trump administration has intensified its warnings, threatening to impose tariffs or sanctions on countries that supply oil to Cuba.
In light of this, the ambassador emphasized that the continuation of oil shipments is crucial for the economic stability of the island, which has been severely affected by the tightening of the U.S. embargo.
"The supply of oil to Cuba is part of our bilateral cooperation and plays a strategic role against the economic suffocation attempts led by the United States," emphasized Coronelli.
The Russian stance comes amid an escalation of rhetoric and actions by President Donald Trump, who recently classified Cuba as "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security.
Additionally, he announced that his government has begun "conversations with the highest authorities of Cuba," though without specifying the content of these discussions.
Trump has specifically warned about economic sanctions against third countries that continue to send oil to the Cuban government.
In the past, Washington had already taken measures to prevent Venezuelan oil—a key source for Havana—from reaching the island. Now, the focus appears to be expanding to Russia and Mexico, the other two main suppliers of hydrocarbons for the Caribbean nation.
These restrictions have had a visible impact on daily life in Cuba: fuel shortages, prolonged power outages, and increases in transportation and food prices.
With an estimated internal demand of around 110,000 barrels per day, the continuity of international supply is essential for the basic functioning of the Cuban economy.
Vasily Nebenzya: "Russia will continue to support its Cuban allies in every possible way."
From the United Nations headquarters, Russia's permanent ambassador to the organization, Vasily Nebenzya, reaffirmed his country's political support for Cuba.
"Russia will continue to support its Cuban allies in every way possible," he said, expressing his conviction that the new U.S. sanctions "will not break the spirit of the island of Freedom."
Nebenzya praised the unity of the Cuban people and their government in the face of what he described as an "endless pressure" from Washington. He also committed to continue developing bilateral cooperation in various areas, including energy, diplomacy, and economics.
"The new unilateral sanctions from the White House will not weaken the determination of the island," he stated, clearly alluding to the historical discourse of resistance that has characterized the relationship between Moscow and Havana since the Cold War.
María Zajárova: The sanctions are "unacceptable" and "illegitimate."
In line with this position, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, María Zajárova, described the American coercive measures as "unacceptable."
In his opinion, the sanctions imposed without the support of the UN Security Council constitute a violation of international law.
“We strongly condemn the illegitimate prohibitive measures directed against Havana,” said Zajárova, noting that Washington is implementing a strategy of “maximum pressure” whose sole aim is to “suffocate Cuba economically.”
Sergey Lavrov: Reaffirmation of bilateral support
As part of this support line, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also recently intervened with a phone call to his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.
During the exchange, Lavrov reiterated Moscow's "strong willingness" to continue providing the necessary political and material support to Cuba to face the economic siege led by Washington.
Mexico also maintains shipments: An expanded energy alliance
In parallel to the Russian statements, the Mexican government has reaffirmed its decision to continue sending oil to Cuba. Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente stated that Mexico will continue to promote humanitarian aid "wherever it is needed," which he defined as a historical conviction of Mexico's foreign policy.
The General Director of Pemex, Víctor Rodríguez, confirmed that the shipments to Cuba are supported by a commercial contract in effect since 2023, which represents revenues of 496 million dollars for Mexico.
Despite the pressures, Mexican officials assure that this agreement represents only a minimal fraction of the production and sales of the state-owned oil company, so its continuity does not jeopardize Mexico's public finances.
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