Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov praised the “special relationship” between Russia and Cuba during a visit with President Miguel Diaz-Canel, just 10 days after Moscow delivered oil and fuel supplies.
The trip comes after months of a fuel blockade imposed by the Trump administration, which has contributed to severe shortages and repeated nationwide blackouts.
“We are one hundred percent in solidarity with Cuba,” Ryabkov was quoted as saying. “We fully understand the complexity of the situation and stand with you.”
Ryabkov also said that Russia’s presence would remain in the Western Hemisphere.
“Russia is not going to leave the Western Hemisphere, no matter what they say in Washington,” Ryabkov said at a press conference to state-run news agency TASS.
The Cuban president said he reaffirmed Havana’s commitment to deepening ties with Moscow and thanked Russia for its support.
“I expressed our willingness to continue strengthening our historic and strategic relationship,” Diaz-Canel said in a statement on X. The Cuban president also sent a greeting to the “esteemed President Vladimir Putin.”
TASS said both countries condemned the United States embargo and called for Cuba to be removed from the State Department’s list of “so-called state sponsors of terrorism.”
The report added that the two nations share aligned positions on major global issues.
“Both countries voiced their unwavering stance regarding the unacceptability of unilateral coercive measures, interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, and the use of force to displace ‘undesirable’ governments,” the Russian news agency said.
Diaz-Canel also thanked Russia for the recent fuel shipment, calling it “an event of enormous significance” that shows “Cuba is not alone.”
He reiterated Cuba’s commitment to expanding political, diplomatic, and economic cooperation with Russia, stressing the need for unity “at a time when the world is so chaotic.”
Earlier this year, the Trump administration ramped up its pressure on Cuba, accusing its government of supporting transnational terrorist groups and countries opposed to U.S. interests, such as Russia and Iran.
In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the embargo, saying it will lead to political change on the island.
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“Suffice it to say that the embargo is tied to political change on the island,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in March. “The law is codified, but the bottom line is their economy doesn’t work. It’s a nonfunctional economy.”