Cubans began this week to reap the benefits of a recent 100,000-metric-ton delivery of Russian crude oil. This is a temporary lifeline to the 'energy starved nation' and it was the first large shipment of oil to arrive on the island since early this year when the United States cut off the fuel.

Late March, the Russian-flagged Anatoly Kolodkin Tanker delivered 700,000 barrels Russian Urals crude at Matanzas Bay in Cuba, challenging the U.S. ban. Donald Trump's administration claimed that it permitted the tanker to bring the oil because of "humanitarian reasons".

Officials said that the newly arrived Russian crude oil began to flow out of Cuba's?Cienfuegos? refinery on April 17th.

Cubans have expressed relief that blackouts are now a thing of the past after nearly four months with rolling outages lasting hours.

Yani Cabrera is a 45 year old private sector worker who lives in Havana. She said that she had noticed a marked change in the last week. Cabrera stated that "Putin’s boat improved the situation and we are thankful for it."

The Russian embassy in Cuba celebrated the arrival of?the fuel with a "Hurray!" This week, the Russian embassy in Cuba posted a video of Havana's?nighttime, now brightly lit, on its social media pages.

SHORT-LIVED RELIEF

On Wednesday evening, Energy Minister?Vicente de la O Levy warned that the relief will be short-lived on state television.

"It won't buy us much time," de la O Levy said, adding that the country will need eight similar sized boats every month to meet its generation and industrial requirements. The Russian fuel supply is only enough to last a few more days, or until the end the month.

The Russian government has confirmed that it is preparing a new shipment of fuel for its long-time friend Cuba, but the shipment has not yet been dispatched.

The island's communist government, which is run by the Trump administration and has promised to bring "change" soon to Cuba, continues its talks.

Cuba has been under pressure from the U.S. for years to open up its economy and pay reparations on properties that were expropriated during Fidel Castro's reign, as well as hold "free" elections. Cuba says its socialist form of government is not negotiable.

After the overthrow of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January, the U.S. imposed additional sanctions and increased pressure on Cuba. Trump threatened to impose punishing tariffs against any country that shipped crude oil to Cuba. This prompted Mexico, another major supplier, to halt shipments.

Fuel shortages in Cuba led to three major blackouts at the national level and many?airlines from abroad suspended flights to Cuba.

"The Russian boat won't solve our problems, but it is a relief," said Ester, a retired 70-year old woman who lives in Havana. She claimed that due to a lack in cooking gas, she was forced to use charcoal.

"We are still living very stressful." (Reporting and editing by Bill Berkrot; Additional reporting by Mario Fuentes; Anett Rios; Ayose Naranjo)

(source: Reuters)