The Cuban government is willing to negotiate with the U.S. as it prepares for acute fuel shortages due to increased pressure from Washington, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said during a rare news conference.

¡°Cuba is ready to have talks with the United States over any issue it wants to debate,¡± Diaz-Canel told reporters Thursday in Havana. ¡°But it has to happen without preconditions, and from a position of equals and with respect.¡±

The U.S. is using its economic and military might to try to strangle the communist regime just 90 miles (144 kilometers) south of Florida, Diaz-Canel added.