Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced on Thursday the implementation of a series of government measures, including restrictions on consumption, to address a complex energy situation exacerbated by coercive measures from the United States

During a press conference, the head of state explained that since December, no fuel has been received due to the strengthening of the blockade against Venezuela, which affects electricity generation and basic economic and social activities.

"We have problems with fuel availability to guarantee not only electricity generation, but also basic activities that directly affect the population," he stated.

The president reported that the Council of Ministers met to approve directives, updated based on the instructions of the historical leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, during the "special period," with the aim of addressing the shortages.

"Even with the energy blockade, we will not give up on receiving fuel in our country. That is a right we have, and we are taking all necessary steps to ensure the country can have a supply again," he asserted.

Díaz-Canel described as "condemnable" and "criminal" the policy of a powerful nation seeking to suffocate a small country, asking: "What right does a nation have to prevent fuel from reaching another country?"

As part of the strategy to counteract the effects of the blockade, the president detailed several actions underway, such as increasing national production.

The president specified that the extraction of oil and associated gas will be promoted, and this year it is expected that 20,000 new Havana consumers will be connected to the manufactured gas network.

He also noted that Cuban scientists are working on projects to refine domestic crude oil and obtain derivatives such as gasoline and diesel, following a successful test at the end of last year.

Progress is also being made in the recovery and construction of new fuel storage capacity, lost after the Matanzas fire, in order to receive larger volumes.

"Let's see it as an opportunity to develop, to have sustainable development, to be more energy sovereign and less dependent," the president stressed.

The president acknowledged that the measures, some of them restrictive, "will demand effort" and "sacrifice" from the population, but emphasized that surrender is not an option for Cuba.

At the diplomatic and rhetorical levels, support has been received from many countries, for Cuba, “but behind those speeches there is more, things that we also cannot openly explain because the enemy is pursuing every avenue that Cuba might open up for them.” “I can assure you, with the utmost responsibility, that Cuba is not alone.”

“Right now there are people, governments, countries, institutions, and companies that are willing to work with Cuba, and that have already shared with us ways, mechanisms, and intentions of how we can do so”

“The energy persecution, the financial persecution, the intensification of the blockade with these coercive measures is such that we know we have to do a very strong, very creative, very intelligent job to overcome all these obstacles”

“Not allowing a single drop of fuel to enter our country will affect transportation, food production, tourism, children's education, and the healthcare system.”

“They are waging psychological warfare against Cuba to fracture the unity of the Cuban people and generate uncertainty,”

“I am not an idealist. I know that we are going to live through difficult times, but we will overcome them together, with creative resistance and the contribution of the majority of Cubans."

“The country must be able to sustain itself with its own energy sources: our own oil, our own gas, biomass, solar energy…”

“By the end of February, we will have added another 98 MW from renewable sources; by the end of March, we will have added another 58 MW, on the path to energy independence.”

“The way the US energy blockade has been implemented reinforces our commitment to the renewable energy strategy.”

“Even with an energy blockade, we will not give up on receiving fuel in our country.”

“I always say that all generations of Cubans, from those born in the early years of the Revolution to the most recent, our grandchildren, our children, were born and lived under a blockade and were born under the signs of this economic suffocation.”

“Cuba does not have a relationship of dependency with Venezuela, but rather a relationship of exchange between sister nations within an integration project.”

Economic and commercial relations, as well as significant collaborative projects in energy and medical services, were formed between Cuba and Venezuela, some of which were offset by fuel payments.

“At one time, they did cover all of our country's fuel needs, but not recently, because we must remember that Venezuela has been subjected to sanctions, coercive measures, and pressures that have affected this exchange”

He added that once the energy and naval blockade against Venezuela began, it prevented ships from Venezuela, and even from other nations carrying Venezuelan fuel, from reaching Cuba.

“The situation is further aggravated by the executive order recently signed by the United States government, which uses threats of tariffs to manipulate countries that supply oil to Cuba. Under this pretext, they have practically imposed an energy blockade on our country.”

“It’s our sovereign duty, in the face of a period of aggression, to prepare for an attack.”

“All the country's territorial defense systems are being prepared and their plans updated.”

“Cuba is a peaceful country; we are not a threat to the US,” but we have the right to defend ourselves.

“We know that terrorists are being financed and are preparing in Miami to carry out attacks in Cuba, and we will denounce them at the appropriate time.”

“Surrender is not an option in this country.”

“Trump, with his statements, acknowledges that there is no failed state, but rather a state that has had to confront the aggressions and sanctions of the most powerful empire in the world, when he says that there is no other pressure to apply to Cuba than to destroy and devastate it.”

“Cuba is willing to engage in dialogue with the US, dialogue on any issue, but without pressure, without preconditions, on equal footing, with respect for our sovereignty and self-determination, in a civilized dialogue that can build a relationship between neighbors that benefits both countries.”

Russia has repeatedly supplied oil to Cuba in recent years, and will continue to do so, Russian Ambassador to Cuba Viktor Coronelli said in an interview.

:"We assume that this practice will continue," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said the United States had begun talks with "the highest people in Cuba," days after declaring Cuba "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security and threatening tariffs on the U.S.-bound exports of any nation that sends oil to the island.

The U.S. has moved to block all oil from reaching Cuba, including that from ally Venezuela, pushing up prices for food and transportation and prompting severe fuel shortages and hours of blackouts, even in the capital Havana.