The US Treasury Department has issued a directive stating that Cuba will not be allowed to accept Russian crude oil, imposing further restrictions on the energy supplies to the island. This decision highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions and the efforts of the US to curb the influence of Russia in the region, particularly in light of the current geopolitical landscape influenced by the conflict in Ukraine.

Cuba was poised to receive two tankers carrying oil and gas, but with this new measure, all transactions involving the sale, delivery, or unloading of crude oil or petroleum products from Russia to Cuba are now forbidden. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Cuba to a list of nations subject to these prohibitions, signaling a coordinated effort to maintain pressure on the Cuban government amidst broader sanctions impacting Russia due to its actions in Ukraine.

This update also comes in the context of the US having temporarily approved the purchase of Russian oil that had been stranded at sea recently. This short-term measure was part of an effort to stabilize energy markets during the ongoing military tensions involving Iran and in coordination with Israel. The impact of these restrictions on Cuba's energy situation could lead to further economic challenges for the island, which is already grappling with severe shortages and increasing pressure from international sanctions.