Cuba's foreign minister says talks with U.S. remain stalled amid harsh embargo

Cuba's top diplomat Bruno Rodriguez told reporters in Havana that there are no active negotiations with the United States and no agenda for future talks, despite a willingness to keep communication channels open. He condemned the decades-old U.S. trade embargo as a "genocidal" blockade that has inflicted over $8 billion in economic damage, noting a 7 percent rise in losses compared with the prior year. Rodriguez said the recent oil restrictions imposed by the Trump administration have crippled electricity generation, leading to prolonged blackouts, food spoilage, and hardship for residents.

He emphasized that the sanctions affect every Cuban citizen rather than just the government. The U.S. State Department was not reached for comment, and the United Nations has previously labeled the sanctions a breach of international law.