Russia Calls Cuba 'Closest Partner,' Says: 'We Have No Right to Abandon Them'

Russia said it will continue supporting Cuba amid the island's worsening energy crisis, describing it as a key regional ally and framing recent oil shipments as both humanitarian assistance and strategic cooperation.

"We simply have no right to abandon them to their fate. We will continue to help Cuba," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, calling Cuba Moscow's "closest and most reliable partner in the Caribbean."

His remarks, reported by EFE, came as a Russian tanker carrying roughly 730,000 barrels of crude arrived at the Cuban port of Matanzas, marking the first such delivery in three months. Russian officials said the shipment was sent "based on humanitarian criteria," while also acknowledging broader geopolitical considerations tied to U.S. pressure on the island.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed that framing, saying Russia considers it its "duty not to stand aside, but to provide the necessary assistance to our Cuban friends." Cuban authorities described the shipment as "valuable aid" arriving amid what they called a U.S.-driven energy blockade.

The delivery comes as Cuba faces an acute fuel shortage following disruptions to Venezuelan oil supplies earlier this year. The island has experienced daily blackouts and mounting strain on essential services, including hospitals. Medical professionals have reported canceled surgeries and reduced access to treatments such as dialysis and chemotherapy due to fuel constraints.

Despite the scale of the shipment, analysts say its impact will likely be temporary. Experts consulted by CNN on Tuesday said that once refined, the fuel could last between 10 and 30 days. "This represents very little," said Jorge Piñón of the University of Texas Energy Institute, noting the limited duration of the supply. Energy analyst Ramsés Pech similarly said the shipment could provide relief for "15 to 30 days" before shortages return.

The oil must also undergo processing before it can be used, including transport to refineries and conditioning, which could delay its availability by several weeks. Cuba consumes an estimated 100,000 barrels of fuel per day but produces less than half domestically, leaving it heavily dependent on imports.

President Donald Trump said over the weekend that Washington does not oppose countries sending oil to Cuba "because they need... they have to survive," while adding the deliveries would not alter the country's broader situation. Russian officials have indicated that additional support could follow, even as the island's structural energy challenges persist.