Díaz-Canel Bermúdez thanks Russian people and government for sending oil to Cuba

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Via Granma and the Communist Party of Cuba, translated from the Spanish

"Thank you Russia. Thank you President Putin. Thank you crew members of the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin who, upon docking in a Cuban port with your valuable cargo of fuel, bring us the certainty of a friendship proven in the hardest moments, as so many times throughout history."

This is how Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, expressed gratitude on X for the solidarity shown by the Russian people and Government. They sent approximately 100,000 metric tons of crude oil to the island, providing relief amid the challenging electro-energy situation in the Caribbean nation. This situation arose following the current U.S. administration's Executive Order imposing an oil blockade on Cuba.

"We will continue to defend the sovereign right of Cuba to import fuels, without any kind of interference or pressure.

Work is already underway on the unloading, then the processing, distribution, and rational use of this shipment which, although insufficient amid the acute shortage, will gradually alleviate the situation in the coming weeks.," said the president.

On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, stated that their country cannot simply abandon Cuba.

"This is a victory for common sense. During the decades in which the United States has exerted increasing pressure on our sister Cuba, we have never hidden our intention to unconditionally support Havana and provide it with assistance," he said.

According to Prensa Latina, Ryabkov also said: "We acted, of course, taking into account humanitarian considerations, but also in accordance with the understanding that Cuba is our closest partner, our most reliable partner in the Caribbean, and we simply do not have the right to abandon it. Aid to Cuba will continue," he said.

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister added that currently, amidst a highly severe energy crisis, Cuba is experiencing significant hardships.

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