Today 3:36 am
////////////////////Russia has promised to provide “active support” to Cuba as the U.S. seeks to tighten its economic grip on the island’s communist government.
“We reaffirm our full solidarity with Cuba,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said during a briefing on Thursday, according to independent news outlet Interfax.
“We strongly condemn any attempts at gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, intimidation and the use of unilateral restrictive measures, threats and blackmail,” she continued. “We will continue to provide our most active support to the fraternal Cuban people during this extremely difficult period.”
Cuba’s economy and energy grid have come under greater strain over the past six months due to a U.S. embargo that has strangled the flow of oil into the country.
Cuba is heavily dependent on Venezuelan oil, but that supply was cut off following the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in January.
Only one shipment of oil has been made it to the island since then, and Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said last week that the 730,000-barrel delivery from a Russian flagged-tanker had run out.
“We have absolutely no fuel (oil), and absolutely no diesel,” de la O Levy, said on state media.
That shortage, coupled with U.S. threats toward companies that attempt to do business with the country’s government, has pushed its electric system to the brink. Rolling blackouts have become more frequent in Havana,//////////
“We reaffirm our full solidarity with Cuba,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said during a briefing on Thursday, according to independent news outlet Interfax.
“We strongly condemn any attempts at gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, intimidation and the use of unilateral restrictive measures, threats and blackmail,” she continued. “We will continue to provide our most active support to the fraternal Cuban people during this extremely difficult period.”
Cuba’s economy and energy grid have come under greater strain over the past six months due to a U.S. embargo that has strangled the flow of oil into the country.
Cuba is heavily dependent on Venezuelan oil, but that supply was cut off following the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in January.
Only one shipment of oil has been made it to the island since then, and Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said last week that the 730,000-barrel delivery from a Russian flagged-tanker had run out.
“We have absolutely no fuel (oil), and absolutely no diesel,” de la O Levy, said on state media.
That shortage, coupled with U.S. threats toward companies that attempt to do business with the country’s government, has pushed its electric system to the brink. Rolling blackouts have become more frequent in Havana,//////////