The USA halts oil exports to Cuba, causing acute shortages. Russia has begun humanitarian oil deliveries.

After the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, Washington decided to stop oil exports to Cuba from its main ally, Venezuela, which led to a severe fuel shortage on the island with a population of nearly 11 million people. Donald Trump threatened punitive tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba, in an attempt to exert pressure on the Cuban government.

Despite this situation, the U.S. allowed the delivery of Russian oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons, marking the first delivery of the year. Lavrov, on a visit to China, announced that Russia would provide humanitarian aid to Cuba, including an oil tanker with 100,000 tons of oil. Cuba produces less than a third of its oil needs, and the Trump administration stated that it would review future oil shipments to Cuba 'on a case-by-case basis.'

Lavrov expressed hope that the U.S. would not return to the times of 'colonial wars.'