Russia Promises Oil Lifeline to Cuba as U.S. Squeeze Pushes Island Toward Collapse

Russia announced on Thursday that it is preparing to ship oil and petroleum products to Cuba as humanitarian aid, stepping into a fuel vacuum created by Washington’s campaign to choke off the island’s energy supply. The Russian embassy in Havana confirmed the plan to the Izvestia newspaper but offered no specifics on timing or quantity.

Cuba has not received a single barrel of imported oil since mid-December, when the United States moved to block exports from Venezuela — Havana’s primary supplier for decades. Trump’s late-January executive order escalated the pressure further, threatening tariffs on any nation that sells fuel to the island. Mexico, Cuba’s other major supplier, subsequently paused its shipments.

The consequences have been swift and severe. Cuba warned international airlines that jet fuel would be unavailable from February 10 through at least March 11, prompting Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, and Russian carriers to suspend service and dispatch empty aircraft to repatriate stranded tourists. Schools have shortened their schedules, state workers are on a four-day week, hotels have shuttered, and hospitals have canceled surgeries. The Financial Times reported in late January that Cuba’s reserves could last as little as 15 days.

Cuba Power Crisis Draws Global Alarm

The UN’s António Guterres warned last week of a humanitarian “collapse” if Cuba’s energy needs go unmet. The vast majority of Cuba’s 11 million people are now enduring rolling blackouts, with some areas going up to 20 hours a day without power. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned Washington’s approach as “cruel aggression,” while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the situation as “truly critical” and accused the U.S. of trying to suffocate the island’s economy.

Russia last shipped oil to Cuba in February 2025, delivering 100,000 metric tons. But Moscow faces its own calculus — any shipment risks provoking U.S. retaliation, and analysts note that Washington could theoretically intercept tankers in the Caribbean, where the Pentagon maintains its largest naval presence since the Cold War.

When asked about potential U.S. tariffs on Russian goods, Peskov struck a measured tone, saying Moscow preferred “constructive dialogue.” The statement underscored an uncomfortable reality: Russia wants to project solidarity with Havana but has limited trade exposure to Washington and even less appetite for a direct confrontation over Cuba’s fuel supply.

Related coverage: Brazil’s Morning Call | Chile Joins Latin America’s Aid Push for Cuba as U.S. Oil Bl This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of Cuba affairs and Latin American financial news.

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