Russia announced it is preparing to send a second oil tanker to Cuba

On Thursday, Russia's energy minister said that after the first oil tanker arrived in Cuba on Tuesday, which is under U.S. blockade, Russia is preparing to dispatch a second oil tanker.

On Tuesday, the Russian oil tanker "Anatoly Kolodkin," carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil, docked at Matanzas Port, about 100 kilometers from Havana, delivering Cuba's first oil supply since January this year.

On Thursday, Russia's energy minister stated that Russia is preparing to send a second oil tanker to Cuba.

Cuban Vice Premier Pérez-Oliva, during a working visit to Russia, said on Wednesday that Havana and Moscow have been discussing "stable fuel supply" and exploring possibilities for cooperation in the energy sector.

After meeting with Russian officials and business representatives in St. Petersburg, the Cuban vice premier told reporters: "We have made progress in our negotiations, including expanding the involvement of Russian companies in oil exploration and production in Cuba, as well as advancing renewable energy power generation projects."

"Down with the blockade"

For years, Cuba has been caught in an economic and energy crisis. Since the beginning of this year, the United States has effectively imposed a petroleum blockade on Cuba. After Venezuela’s President Maduro was detained by the U.S., oil supplies from Venezuela ceased, and combined with U.S. threats to sanction any country supplying oil to Cuba, Cuba’s energy situation has become even more dire.

On Thursday, hundreds of Cubans rode bicycles and electric motorcycles through Havana, staging a protest in front of the U.S. Embassy, waving Cuban flags and shouting slogans demanding the end of the U.S. blockade against Cuba.

Cuban President Díaz-Canel praised the "anti-imperialist youth march" organized by the Communist Youth Union at the start of the demonstration.

Before the arrival of Russia’s first oil tanker in Cuba, former U.S. President Trump claimed such shipments "would make no difference." He said: "Cuba is finished… whether or not it receives oil doesn’t matter."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1861418360233984/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.