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Cuba has once again sided with Russia on one of the most sensitive issues of the conflict in Ukraine: the forced deportation of minors. The Cuban delegation voted against a resolution passed on Wednesday in the UN General Assembly that demands Moscow's immediate, safe, and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children transferred or deported since 2014, many of whom have been separated from their families, subjected to changes in citizenship, indoctrination, and relocation to occupied territories.
The resolution received 91 votes in favor, 57 abstentions, and only 12 votes against, including Russia, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba.
“Thank you for your support! And what a shame about the dozen!” wrote Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergiy Kyslytsya, on X while posting the voting results. It was a message directed at the minority of countries that refused to support the family reunification of minors.
The approved text recalls that the protection of minors is an obligation under international law and expresses "deep concern" for the fate of Ukrainian children subjected to deportation or separation from their parents since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
It demands that Russia immediately put an end to these practices and facilitate the return of minors to their homes, as well as ensure their access to medical assistance, psychosocial support, and a safe environment for their reintegration.
"Your 'yes' vote is a vote for peace," Kyslytsya had written hours earlier in a call to the UN representatives.
"There is no genuine excuse for not supporting the reunification of children with their families."
Even the Vatican supported the return of the minors
The humanitarian dimension of the issue became even clearer after the intervention of the Holy See, which reiterated at the UN that Ukrainian children must return to their families, a matter of “justice” that should not be overshadowed by “political considerations.”
The Vatican called for an immediate ceasefire and reminded that each day without peace "robs something from all of humanity."
While the international community called for a minimum consensus on child protection, Cuba chose to align itself with Moscow.
The Cuban Discourse and Its Contradictions
The negative vote comes accompanied by a contrast that is hard to ignore. A few days ago, the Cuban mission to the UN announced on X that Cuba maintains a policy of "zero tolerance" against human trafficking and advocates for a "humane" response based on international cooperation.
This year, they also shared a message reaffirming their commitment to racial equality and the rights of Afro-descendants.
In practice, however, Havana supported one of the governments accused of carrying out the forced relocation of thousands of children, a practice that the resolution qualifies as a violation of international humanitarian law.
While the world demands that children be reunited with their parents, Cuba chose to side with the aggressor.
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