MATANZAS, Cuba, March 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A Russian oil tanker was set to deliver the first crude shipment to Cuba since January on Tuesday after Washington gave the crisis-hit island a reprieve from an effective fuel blockade. Trump said Sunday that he did not object to Russia or others sending oil to the island because Cubans "have to survive." The US president has mused about "taking" the communist-ruled island, though Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed in March that Cuban and US officials had held talks. Analysts said the Russian oil would buy the Cuban economy only a few weeks. Herrero said the shipment was just "another donation" by Cuba's Russian ally, but he doubted that Moscow wanted to subsidize the Cuban economy in the long term.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 31, 2026 06:19 UTC