Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed Friday that his government has engaged in talks with Trump administration officials, marking the first public acknowledgment of such negotiations between the two countries.

In a video broadcast on Cuban national television, Díaz-Canel said the discussions were "aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences we have between the two nations." The Cuban leader specifically referenced the U.S. economic embargo, which Cuba refers to as a blockade, as a key issue in the talks.

The confirmation comes as Cuba faces a severe economic crisis and energy shortages that have sparked increased public discontent. The Communist government has been dealing with widespread power outages and growing protests from citizens struggling with basic necessities.

Díaz-Canel's rare television appearance occurred shortly before he was scheduled to address Cuban media, an unusual move for the typically private leader. The timing suggests the government may be seeking to demonstrate diplomatic engagement amid mounting domestic pressures.

The acknowledgment of talks with the Trump administration represents a significant development in U.S.-Cuba relations, which have been strained since the Trump administration reversed many of the diplomatic openings established during the Obama presidency.