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A top Cuban official has confirmed that Cuba is holding direct talks with the Trump administration aimed at resolving growing tensions between the two countries.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you haven’t been following along, Cuba is under a significant amount of pressure right now as the Trump administration intensifies its embargo against the country. Shortly after the fall of Nicolás Maduro, the US moved to cut off oil shipments from Venezuela to Cuba (fuel the island had long relied on). At the same time, pressure also led Mexico to halt shipments, effectively choking off supplies that accounted for more than 80% of Cuba’s energy. The sudden loss of fuel has triggered widespread blackouts, transportation and economic disruptions, pushing the island toward what both US officials and other world leaders describe as a growing humanitarian crisis. Trump has openly said Cuba needs to “make a deal” with the US, fueling speculation that the strategy of cutting off energy while increasing diplomatic pressure is aimed at forcing regime change in the country. Others have speculated that Trump is seeking a clampdown on Chinese influence on the island (similar to what the administration did to Panama).

What’s going on now: Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed for the first time that Cuban officials have been holding talks with the Trump administration, saying the discussions are focused on addressing disputes between the two countries and exploring possible cooperation. Díaz-Canel said the conversations were meant to “identify the bilateral problems that need a solution” and to determine whether both sides are willing to “take concrete actions” that could improve the situation between the two nations. He described the negotiations as “a very sensitive process that is conducted with seriousness and responsibility.”

A White House official also told reporters that “we are talking to Cuba, whose leaders should make a deal,” echoing Trump’s belief that an agreement between the two countries “would be very easily made.”

The confirmation from Havana comes after weeks of signals from the White House that discussions were already underway. President Donald Trump had repeatedly said the US was speaking with Cuban representatives and suggested the country’s leadership was “desperate” to strike a deal with him.