The Russian tanker Universal, the second shipment of fuel from Moscow to support Cuba in the face of the energy crisis aggravated by the US blockade.
On Tuesday, the Universal oil tanker, which has been subject to U.S.-European sanctions, is sailing through the North Atlantic with Cuba as its final destination.
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The Universal belongs to the Russian shipping company Sovcomflot, as does the Anatoli Kolodkin tanker, which on March 31 transported 730,000 barrels of oil, the first shipment from Moscow to Cuba.
The vessel, identified by the IMO number 9384306, departed in early April from a port on the Baltic Sea and on April 8 crossed the English Channel accompanied by a Russian frigate.
The arrival of the Universal in Cuba comes in the wake of the announcement by the Russian Energy Minister, Sergey Tsiviliov, regarding a second shipment of fuel to the island.
This shipment represents political support from Russia and assistance in the face of the severe energy crisis the country is experiencing, as acknowledged by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
This new shipment strengthens the strategic ties between the two countries, demonstrating international solidarity in the face of the external limitations Cuba is facing.
The text reads, “Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov following the Russian-Cuban consultations: We stand alongside the Cubans practically on all international agenda issues without exception”.
While international aid does not structurally resolve the hydrocarbon deficit, it provides immediate relief and reinforces the strategic links between the two countries at a time when Cuba is seeking to sustain its energy matrix in the face of external constraints.
The country requires approximately 100,000 barrels of oil per day to meet its energy needs, of which 40,000 come from domestic production; the remainder must be obtained through imports.
This shipment demonstrates solidarity and support during challenging times, when energy has become a key element for the country’s stability and daily life.
Therefore, like its predecessor, the Universal ship will arrive in Cuban waters to complete its mission, symbolizing not only a logistical operation, but also a gesture of international cooperation that resonates in the current geopolitical scenario.
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
