Overview
- Díaz‑Canel, who told NBC on Thursday he would not step down, said only Cubans can decide who leads the country.
- He said Cuba will talk with Washington only without pressure or preconditions, with Havana describing current contacts as very preliminary.
- The comments follow weeks of pressure from President Trump, with reports he urged Díaz‑Canel to resign and public claims that Cuba is “finished.”
- Fuel shortages after Venezuelan oil stopped have caused long power cuts and stalled transport, hitting hospitals, schools, water service, and cooking gas.
- Russia has tried to ease the crunch with a late‑March tanker delivery and a promised second shipment, as Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov visited Havana to pledge support.