MOSCOW – Russian officials declared Friday their nation will stand with Cuba and maintain humanitarian support for the Caribbean island, while condemning what Moscow characterizes as intimidation tactics from the United States.
President Donald Trump has previously stated he anticipates having the privilege of “taking Cuba,” while simultaneously, Washington has pressed Havana to reform its economy and expand political liberties.
“Against the backdrop of the targeted and malicious escalation against Cuba, we reaffirm our solidarity with the Cuban government and the Cuban people,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.
“We reject blackmail and threats in foreign policy, which also applies to Washington’s current demonstrative aggressive pressure on Havana with the aim of gross interference in Cuba’s internal affairs in order to break Cuban statehood,” Zakharova stated.
The Caribbean nation maintained strong ties with Moscow for many years, beginning with the Communist uprising in 1959 that elevated Fidel Castro to leadership and continuing through the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991. In recent years, Russia has backed the island through financial support and material resources.
“Russia and Cuba have a close historical relationship. We have always been on the side of Cuba in its struggle for independence, in its right to live by its own rules, develop on its own path and defend its own interests,” Zakharova explained.
“We will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Cuba during this difficult period of artificially fueled confrontation,” she added.
A Russian vessel, the Anatoly Kolodkin tanker, delivered approximately 700,000 barrels of Russian Urals crude oil in late March to Cuba’s Matanzas Bay, defying US fuel restrictions. The Trump administration stated it permitted the shipment for “humanitarian” purposes.
