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The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, reaffirmed this Wednesday the historic support of Moscow for Havana by declaring that his country “has always stood by Cuba in its struggle for independence”, during a meeting at the Kremlin with the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.
The Russian leader also described the new sanctions imposed by the United States against the island as “unacceptable”, in the context of increasing pressure from Washington on the Cuban regime, reported the local outlet Russia Today.
"We have always stood by Cuba in its struggle for independence, for the right to follow its own path of development, and we have always supported the Cuban people," asserted Putin, who emphasized that Russia does not accept the coercive measures adopted by the U.S. administration.
The statements come weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a "national emergency" over what Washington considers a threat to its national security, tightening restrictions and announcing tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba.
On the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow's "full solidarity" with Havana and rejected allegations that cooperation between the two countries poses a threat to the United States.
The Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, described the meeting as particularly significant given the "difficult moment" the island is experiencing and assured that Russia will continue to develop its relations with Cuba and provide assistance during challenging times.
The visit of the Cuban chancellor to Moscow comes amid a deep economic crisis in the Caribbean nation, characterized by prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, and a sustained contraction in production activity. While the regime seeks support from traditional allies like Russia, the Trump administration has intensified its pressure to force structural and political changes in Havana.
From the Cuban government, President Miguel Díaz-Canel emphasized that the island is a "free, independent, and sovereign" nation and rejected what he termed as aggressions from Washington.
Putin's explicit backing reinforces the strategic alliance between Moscow and Havana at a time of geopolitical reconfiguration, although analysts point out that Russia's actual economic support may be constrained by its own international tensions and financial restrictions.
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