Russia on Tuesday voiced deep concern over the rising tensions surrounding Cuba, warning that the island has been facing increasing external pressure in recent months.
Moscow said there appears to be a deliberate attempt to escalate confrontation, while reaffirming its strong support for both the Cuban government and its people.
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned efforts to “interfere in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state, intimidate it, and engage in illegal unilateral restrictive measures.”
Russia attributed Cuba’s current “unprecedented challenges” to the long-standing United States embargo, which it said has significantly impacted the country’s trade, economy, financial system, and energy sector.
The Kremlin expressed confidence that “the heroic Cuban nation” would continue to defend its sovereign right to determine its own path of development, even in the face of what it described as external threats.
Moscow’s show of solidarity comes amid intensified diplomatic pressure from Washington, which designated Cuba a State Sponsor of Terrorism in January 2021.
Recent reports indicate that the Trump administration has told Cuba that progress in negotiations would require President Miguel Díaz-Canel to step down from power.
Díaz-Canel, widely regarded as a hardliner, has been in office since 2018 and leads the Communist government that has ruled the country for more than six decades.
The United States has demanded broader political and economic reforms, along with the release of political detainees, as conditions for easing sanctions. Some prisoners were reportedly released last week following mediation by the Vatican.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump described Cuba as being in a “very bad shape,” adding that, “we’ll be doing something with Cuba very soon.”
Meanwhile, U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and restrictions on oil exports to Cuba have worsened fuel shortages on the island, contributing to widespread blackouts and instability in the power grid.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained that the embargo is tied to political change, insisting that new leadership is necessary to resolve the crisis, saying, “The people in charge don’t know how to fix it; they have to get new people.”