Putin rejects sanctions against Cuba, pledges solidarity amid US pressure

2026-02-18 - 21:32

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Wednesday that Moscow categorically rejects sanctions imposed against Cuba, voicing solidarity with the island nation during a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parilla in the Kremlin. Putin stated that Russia's position has been expressed "openly, clearly, and unambiguously" through the Foreign Ministry, reaffirming Moscow's opposition to Washington's coercive measures against Havana. Historic Ties and Contemporary Support Emphasizing the "special" nature of relations between the two countries, Putin recalled that Russia has always "stood by Cuba in its struggle for independence." He acknowledged the decades of hardship endured by the Cuban people "in their struggle for the right to live by their own rules and defend their national interests." The remarks come as Cuba faces intensified US pressure following Washington's fuel embargo, implemented after halting oil supplies from Mexico and Venezuela and capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the process. Energy Lifeline Amid Acute Shortages The United States has announced intentions to impose proportional import duties on countries supplying fuel to Cuba, deepening the island's energy crisis. In response, the Russian Embassy in Havana announced last week that Moscow would soon begin shipments of oil and petroleum products to Cuba as humanitarian aid. Putin noted that bilateral relations are "developing on a generally positive track," signaling Moscow's determination to maintain economic and political ties despite US threats of secondary sanctions against nations dealing with Cuba. Strategic Dimensions of Russian-Cuban Alignment Putin's unequivocal rejection of sanctions against Cuba reinforces Moscow's broader strategy of cultivating partnerships with US adversaries and nations facing Western pressure. For Cuba, facing its most severe fuel crisis in decades following the disruption of traditional supply lines, Russian oil shipments offer a critical lifeline. The meeting underscores how geopolitical competition is playing out in the Caribbean, with Russia positioning itself as a counterweight to US influence and a defender of nations resisting Washington's unilateral coercive measures.