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Two Democratic<\/a> US lawmakers on Monday called for an end to the \u201ccruel collective punishment\u201d of Cuba<\/a> after they visited the island to witness the effects of an US energy blockade.<\/p>\n The US House members Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Jonathan Jackson of Illinois met with the Cuban president, Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel, and foreign minister, Bruno Rodr\u00edguez, as well as members of Cuba\u2019s parliament during a five-day trip ending on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is cruel collective punishment \u2013 effectively an economic bombing of the infrastructure of the country \u2013 that has produced permanent damage,\u201d Jayapal and Jackson said in a statement released on Sunday. \u201cIt must stop immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile D\u00edaz-Canel wrote on X:\u201cI denounced the criminal damage caused by the blockade, particularly the consequences of the energy siege decreed by the current US government and its threats of even more aggressive actions.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he had \u201creiterated the willingness of our government to sustain a serious and responsible bilateral dialogue, and to find solutions to the existing differences\u201d.<\/p>\n Donald Trump<\/a> has signaled<\/a> a potential \u201cfriendly takeover\u201d of Cuba while D\u00edaz-Canel seeks economic cooperation without sacrificing sovereignty.<\/p>\n