"Such proposals have been put forward and are being discussed by the government. The intergovernmental commission for the development of trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Cuba is handling this issue", Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on 25/2 regarding the plan to supply fuel to Cuba.

Previously, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister also announced that the country would supply essential materials to Cuba, but this marks the first time Moscow has publicly stated the possibility of transferring oil to Havana since the US tightened its oil embargo on the island nation.

Russia, along with Venezuela and Mexico, were once leading oil suppliers to Cuba, an island nation heavily reliant on imported fuel to meet its domestic energy needs.

People on a street in Havana, Cuba, on 20/2. Photo: Reuters

However, Venezuela's oil supply to Cuba was disrupted last month after the US launched an operation in Caracas and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Immediately afterward, US President Donald Trump announced the cessation of oil supplies from Venezuela to Cuba, simultaneously signing an executive order threatening sanctions against any country supplying oil to Cuba.

Mexico ceased oil supplies to Cuba due to concerns about increased US tariffs, plunging Cuba into severe fuel shortages, which led to prolonged power outages and soaring food and transportation prices.

The United Nations has warned of a potential humanitarian crisis in Cuba due to fuel shortages. Mexico and Russia are also seeking to negotiate with the US to ease the oil embargo on Cuba.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in Moscow and declared Trump's executive order, which sanctions those supplying oil to Cuba, "unacceptable".

As Cuba faces increasing pressure from the US, many nations have provided humanitarian aid to the country. This week, Canada pledged over 6,7 million USD in food aid to Cuba, to be delivered through the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Mexico also sent thousands of tons of aid to Cuba.

On 25/2, the US Treasury Department announced it would license companies wishing to resell Venezuelan oil to Cuba, provided these transactions "must support the Cuban people, including the private sector", while transactions involving or benefiting Cuba's military or government agencies would not be permitted.

Ngoc Anh (According to TASS, Al Jazeera)