Feb 12, 2026, 1:49 p.mFeb 12, 2026, 1:49 p.m
After a US oil embargo and tariff threats against Cuba’s oil suppliers, Russia has promised help for the Caribbean island.
“We are in contact with our Cuban friends and we are discussing ways to provide them with assistance,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Russian state news agency Tass, when asked about reports of possible oil deliveries to Cuba.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.Image: www.imago-images.de
The Kremlin-affiliated daily newspaper “Izvestia” had previously reported possible oil deliveries from Moscow to Cuba as humanitarian aid, citing the Russian embassy in Cuba. The island state has been in a severe economic crisis for years with power outages that last for hours and a shortage of resources. Cuba has not received oil from Venezuela since December, as US President Donald Trump ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers carrying supplies from the sister South American nation. He then threatened to impose tariffs on Cuba’s oil suppliers.
Russia hopes for a constructive dialogue with the USA and a solution to the current problems, said Peskov, according to the state news agency. Moscow does not want an escalation in the form of American tariffs, but on the other hand it does not currently have particularly extensive trade in goods with the USA.
Problems for Russian tourists
According to Tass, Russian Foreign Office spokeswoman Maria Zakharova complained about difficulties for Russian tourists. The United States has been blockading Cuba for many years, but the situation is now absurd, she said. Russia believes that the actions of “external forces” are aimed at causing discontent among the population and inconvenience for foreign citizens, she said. The aim is to worsen the energy crisis, including stopping air traffic.
The Russian airlines Rossija and Nordwind had announced the day before that travelers would only be flown back to Russia from their Cuban holiday destinations. State airline Aeroflot announced several flights from Cuba to Moscow starting today and one for foreign tourists from Moscow to Cuba on Sunday. From February 24th, all further flights on this route would be canceled. Other international airlines had previously suspended or adjusted their connections to Cuba. (hkl/sda/dpa)