Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla during talks at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin in Moscow, February 18, 2026.
Pavel Bednyakov | AFP | Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin has harshly criticized the Trump administration’s fuel blockade on Cuba, saying the Russian government considers the latest restrictions unacceptable.
His comments came as the island nation faces a worsening economic crisis that has been compared to its biggest challenge since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
“This is a special moment with new sanctions. You know how we feel about this. We will not accept anything like this,” Putin said in a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla on Wednesday, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.
Russia, a decades-long ally of Cuba, recently described the fuel situation in Havana as “a real crisis” and said it was actively discussing what assistance it could provide to the country.
“We are allies of Cuba in its struggle for independence and the right to pursue its own path of development, and we have always supported the Cuban people,” Putin said.
“We know how difficult the last few decades have been for the Cuban people, as they have fought for the right to live by their own rules and protect their national interests,” he added.
Since launching an unprecedented military operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, the United States has effectively cut off Cuba from Venezuelan oil. Cuba said 32 of its citizens were killed in the attack.
US President Donald Trump has since vowed to impose tariffs on countries that supply Havana with oil, labeling the Havana government an “unusual and extraordinary threat.”
Earlier this month, the United Nations warned of a possible humanitarian “collapse” as Cuba’s oil supplies dwindle.
“A very dramatic change”
The Cuban government, which has denounced U.S. pressure, recently took steps to protect vital services and ensure fuel supplies to key sectors.
The company also canceled its annual cigar festival, which was scheduled to take place in Havana later this month, but did not provide details of a new date.
Photos of daily life in Cuba show that in recent days many collection trucks have been left with empty fuel tanks, leaving piles of garbage piling up on Havana’s street corners.
On February 17, 2026, a bisi taxi runs in front of piles of garbage on the streets of Havana.
Yamil Raji | AFP | Getty Images
The White House stopped short of calling for regime change, but said it was in Cuba’s interest to make major changes soon.
“These are a crumbling regime. Their country is crumbling. That’s why we believe it’s in their best interest to make some very dramatic changes right away,” White House press secretary Caroline Levitt told reporters Wednesday.
