Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Cuba’s diplomat Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla in Moscow today. Sergey Lavrov is calling on the United States to end its standing embargo on Cuba. This embargo is causing a lot of problems for Cuba, which is dealing with a fuel shortage right now.
Sergey Lavrov and Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla talked about how Russia and Cuba can work. They want to help each other out economically. Sergey Lavrov criticized the United States for its embargo on Cuba. He said it is making things worse for the people of Cuba. Sergey Lavrov thinks the United States should lift the embargo, which Russia and Cuba call a blockade. This would help Cuba get the fuel and energy it needs.
Cuba is having a tough time with fuel shortages. It is one of the shortages in decades. The government in Havana has had to do some things to cope with the shortage. They have turned off the power in some areas, reduced the number of buses running, and cut back on some services. There are lines of people waiting to buy fuel at petrol stations in many cities.
The United States imposed the embargo on Cuba a long time ago, in the early 1960s. It restricts trade and financial transactions with Cuba. There are some exceptions, like for goods and some sectors. Havana says the sanctions make it hard for them to access global banking systems and fuel supplies.
Russia has been helping Cuba out for years. They have been working together on energy cooperation, debt restructuring agreements, and political coordination in forums. Russia has even sent oil shipments to Cuba to help with the shortages. The deliveries have not been consistent.
Bruno Rodríguez thanked Russia for its support. He said Cuba wants the United States to lift its sanctions. The current fuel and electricity shortages are causing a lot of pressure on households and public services.
The meeting between Sergey Lavrov and Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla happened at a time when there were a lot of tensions in the world. Russia is trying to strengthen its partnerships in Latin America. Russia is also facing sanctions from Western countries because of the war in Ukraine.
The United States did not respond to Sergey Lavrov’s call to end the embargo on Cuba. Sergey Lavrov and Cuba are still waiting to see what the United States will do about the embargo. Cuba and Sergey Lavrov really want the embargo to end so Cuba can get the fuel and energy it needs.