Russia has been a recurring supplier of oil to Cuba in recent years and intends to maintain that pattern, Viktor Coronelli, Russia's ambassador to Cuba, said in an interview with the state news agency RIA. "We assume that this practice will continue," he said.
The diplomat's remarks arrived in the wake of comments from U.S. President Donald Trump. On Sunday, the president said the United States had started talks with "the highest people in Cuba," following his declaration that Cuba represented "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security. He also warned of tariffs on the U.S.-bound exports of any country that sends oil to the communist-run island.
U.S. actions have included moves to prevent oil shipments from reaching Cuba, a policy that has affected supplies from multiple sources. Those restrictions have been reported to have pushed up prices for food and transportation within Cuba, and contributed to severe fuel shortages and extended power outages, including hours-long blackouts in Havana.
The ambassador's statement affirms Russia's recent role as an oil supplier to Cuba and signals an expectation that deliveries will continue despite U.S. pressure and threats of economic penalties. The U.S. stance - including both diplomatic engagement and measures aimed at curbing oil flows - is presented alongside reported domestic impacts in Cuba such as increased costs for basic goods and disruptions to fuel-dependent services and power availability.
Details provided in the interview are limited to the ambassador's confirmation of repeated past supplies and his expectation that those supplies will persist. The account of U.S. policy and its reported effects on Cuba is presented through quotations attributed to the U.S. president and descriptions of the reported consequences for Cuban prices, fuel availability and electricity service.
Key context: Russia's ambassador confirmed ongoing supply patterns; the U.S. has indicated both diplomatic outreach to Cuba and punitive measures aimed at third-party oil suppliers; Cuban consumers and services are reported to be affected by rising costs and fuel-related outages.