Cuba FM visits Moscow

The Cuban foreign minister visited Moscow on Wednesday as the island faces blackouts and severe fuel shortages caused by a US oil embargo. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and was set to meet later in the day with President Vladimir Putin.

Lavrov urged the US to refrain from blockading Cuba, which has struggled to import oil for its power plants and refineries. “Together with most members of the global community, we are calling on the US to show common sense, take a responsible approach and refrain from its plans of sea blockade,” Lavrov said during the talks with Rodriguez.

He promised that Moscow will “continue supporting Cuba and its people in protecting the country’s sovereignty and security.” Cuba's fuel shortages already have forced Russian tourist companies to halt the sales of package tours to the island.