RUSSIA – Russia have stressed that it won’t betray or abandon Cuba during contacts between the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and officials in Havana.
At a news conference at the Russian Embassy in the Cuban capital, Ryabkov described Moscow’s relationship with Cuba as “special,” saying the country holds significant political and emotional importance for the Russian people.
“For us, Cubans are brothers. And we cannot simply betray Cuba – that is completely out of the question, we cannot abandon it to its fate,” Ryabkov said in remarks published by Russian media outlets overnight Thursday.
He argued that “aggressiveness remains the foundation of US policy,” adding that Cuba is a direct target of that approach.
Ryabkov also said Moscow has no intention of leaving its interests in the Western Hemisphere “no matter what they say in Washington,” where he said officials are “obsessed with the idea of ousting Russia, as well as China, from the region.”
On his talks in Havana, Ryabkov said economic issues were among the main topics, noting that while ensuring the island’s energy security is a priority, it is too early to outline next steps.
“It’s common knowledge that we’re not limiting ourselves to delivering the oil shipment that already arrived on the island on the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin,” he said.
He added that practical cooperation, including supplying hydrocarbons and “stabilizing its energy system,” is particularly important given the island’s current situation amid the US blockade.
Ryabkov was received in Havana on Thursday by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, and the sides exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international issues, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement Friday.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Says Won’t Step Down
Rejecting mounting pressure from the US, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said he will not step down from office, asserting that the country’s leadership is determined solely by its own people.
In an interview with NBC News aired Thursday, Diaz-Canel dismissed suggestions that he should resign to ease the country’s crisis, emphasizing that Cuba is a sovereign state independent of external influence.
“In Cuba, the people who are in leadership positions are not elected by the US government,” he said, adding that “stepping down is not part of our vocabulary.”
The remarks come as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Havana, with officials calling for political and economic changes on the communist-run island.
A White House official said Washington believes a deal with Cuba could be reached, while also describing the country as a “failing nation.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also criticized Cuba’s economic system, saying meaningful change would require a shift in leadership and governance.
“Cubans can only be successful if they leave the country,” said Rubio.
Diaz-Canel pushed back, questioning whether similar demands would be directed at US leaders and accusing Washington of attempting to shape Cuba’s internal affairs.
Cuba has faced a prolonged economic crisis marked by fuel shortages, rolling blackouts, and limited access to food and medicine. Cuban officials attribute much of the hardship to decades-long US sanctions, while US officials argue structural economic issues are to blame.
Recent developments have further strained the situation, including reduced oil shipments from Venezuela and ongoing supply disruptions, contributing to nationwide power outages.
Despite tensions, both sides have acknowledged limited contact. Cuba’s deputy foreign minister said discussions on easing tensions remain at a “very preliminary” stage.
US President Donald Trump said on March 29 that Cuba is “next” after the military operation against Iran, adding that the Caribbean island nation will fail soon
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