Russia Condemns U.S. Fuel Blockade on Cuba

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the Trump administration’s decision to block fuel shipments to Cuba, calling the move ‘unacceptable.’

Putin made the remarks during a meeting with Cuba’s foreign minister in Moscow on Wednesday, according to CNBC. He also reaffirmed Russia’s support for Cuba’s sovereignty and their long historical ties. “We have always been on Cuba’s side in its struggle for independence, for the right to follow its own path of development,” Putin said.

The U.S. blockade has cut Cuba off from Venezuelan oil since January, after a U.S. military operation captured Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro. Since then, President Trump has warned that any country supplying oil to Cuba will face tariffs.

“This is a special period, with new sanctions. You know how we feel about this. We do not accept anything like this,” Putin said during the meeting, according to the Russian news agency Tass.

The fuel shortage has already forced Cuba to ration supplies and scale back essential services. The United Nations has warned that the situation could lead to a humanitarian collapse if fuel and basic supplies continue to decline. Images in recent days have shown garbage piling up in some areas as fuel shortages affect waste collection.