Russia will send 80,000 tons of diesel to alleviate the island’s energy crisis

MADRID 9 Nov. () –

The Russian Government will send to Cuba 80,000 tons of diesel and equipment worth 62 million dollars (about 57.8 million euros) to help the Cuban Government face the serious energy crisis that has caused general blackouts throughout the island.

“On instructions from our president, Vladimir Putin, Russia is willing to provide our sister Cuba with emergency aid in connection with the current situation in the island’s energy sector,” explained Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dimitri Chernishenko in statements collected. by the Russian state news agency TASS.

Cuban media have highlighted Russian “solidarity” with this aid, announced coinciding with Chernishenko’s visit to Havana, where he was received by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. “We reviewed important bilateral agreements that reinforce our strategic relations,” Díaz-Canel highlighted in a message on Telegram.

During the meeting, Chernishenko highlighted that it was the first time he had seen the Cuban leader in a military uniform, to which Díaz-Canel responded that “we are at war against a hurricane.” “And we came to help,” added the Russian official, according to a statement from the Cuban Presidency.

The Cuban president thanked Chernishenko for his visit for the meeting of the co-presidents of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission on Commercial, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

Chernishenko had previously visited Venezuela, where he met with President Nicolás Maduro and co-chaired the XVIII meeting of the High-Level Intergovernmental Commission (CIAN) between Venezuela and Russia.