Cuba confirms talks with US as island gasps under Trump’s energy blockade

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Friday that his government has held recent talks with the US, marking the first time the Caribbean country confirms such speculation.He said the talks “were aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations. International factors facilitated these exchanges”.He did not elaborate on those factors.Diaz-Canel said no petroleum shipments have arrived on the island in the past three months, which he blamed on a US energy blockade.Cuba’s western region was hit by a massive blackout last week, leaving millions without power.He said that Cuba, which produces 40 per cent of its petroleum, has been generating its own power but that it has not been sufficient to meet demand.He said the lack of power has affected communications, education and transport, and that the government has had to postpone surgeries for tens of thousands of people as a result.