The Kremlin assured on Monday that Moscow considers it a duty to support Cuba amid the deep energy crisis the island is experiencing, following the arrival of a Russian tanker with about 100,000 tons of crude oil.
The Russian presidential spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, defended the shipment as a necessary act in light of the shortages faced by the Caribbean nation.
“Russia believes it is its duty not to remain on the sidelines and to provide the necessary assistance to our Cuban friends”, affirmed the official before the Russian press.
Peskov insisted that the aid addresses the basic needs of the country in the context of severe external restrictions.
“Under conditions of a severe blockade, our Cuban friends need petroleum products and crude oil; this is necessary for the operation of vital support systems in the country, for electricity generation, and to provide medical or other services to the population,” he explained.
A shipment amid the crisis
The Kremlin's statement coincides with the arrival in Cuba of the Russian oil tanker Anatoli Kolodkin, which is waiting to unload at the port of Matanzas, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Transport.
The ship carries about 100,000 tons of crude oil—equivalent to approximately 730,000 barrels—in what Moscow has termed humanitarian aid.
This is the first shipment of oil to the island in three months, following the disruption of supplies from countries such as Venezuela and Mexico amidst pressure from Washington.
Since January 9, Cuba had not received shipments of this kind, which has worsened an energy crisis marked by prolonged blackouts.
Nevertheless, experts warn that the volume received would barely cover around one to two weeks of national consumption.
Moscow confirms contacts with Washington
In a key element of the episode, the Kremlin itself acknowledged that the shipment was not a unilateral decision.
“This issue was raised in advance during contacts with our American counterparts”, Peskov revealed, confirming that Moscow had previously discussed with Washington the possibility of making these supplies.
The acknowledgment suggests that the United States was not only aware of the shipment but also allowed its execution under certain conditions, in line with a policy of selective control over the energy flow to the island.
President Donald Trump had previously expressed this stance by stating this Sunday that he would not oppose targeted shipments.
"If a country wants to send some oil to Cuba, I have no problem with that", he stated, downplaying the significance of the shipment.
Pressure, sanctions, and energy crisis
The arrival of Russian crude comes amid increasing pressure from the United States on the Cuban government.
On January 29, Trump signed an executive order declaring a "national emergency" over the supposed threat posed by Cuba to U.S. security.
The measure included additional sanctions and the imposition of tariffs on countries that supply oil to the island.
Washington accuses the Cuban government of aligning with countries considered hostile and allowing military and intelligence presence from Russia and China, allegations that Havana has categorically rejected.
From Cuba, the government deemed these actions as evidence of the "fascist, criminal, and genocidal nature" of U.S. policy.
The shipment of Russian oil to Cuba takes place in a complex international context, where the island's energy crisis, U.S. sanctions, and Russia's own difficulties in exporting crude amid the conflict in Ukraine converge.
Beyond the Kremlin's humanitarian rhetoric, this episode reflects a delicate balance: Moscow reaffirms its support for Havana, while Washington retains the ability to allow or restrict the flow of energy.
In this context, the arrival of Anatoli Kolodkin not only temporarily alleviates the fuel shortage on the island but also highlights the extent to which Cuba's energy survival currently relies on external decisions in a landscape marked by global tensions.
Filed under: