CUBA’s president said on Friday that his government has held recent talks with the United States.

Miguel Diaz-Canel said the talks “were aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations. International factors facilitated these exchanges.”

He stated that no petroleum shipments have arrived on the island in the past three months due to the US energy blockade.

He said that Cuba, which produces 40 per cent of its petroleum, has been generating its own power, but that it hasn’t been sufficient to meet demand.

He said the lack of power has affected communications, education and transportation, and that the government has had to postpone surgeries for tens of thousands of people as a result.

Mr Diaz-Canel said that the aim of the talks was “to determine the willingness of both parties to take concrete actions for the benefit of the people of both countries.”

He noted that Cuba is willing to carry out the process based on equality and respect for the countries’ political systems and for Cuba’s “sovereignty and self-determination.”