Cuba expresses its support for Russia in the context of the crisis with Ukraine

O ditado de Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel discursa em evento em Havana, em fevereiro de 2022

The Cuban dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel speaks at an event in Havana, in February 2027

| Photo: (EPA) EFE

Cuba dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted this Wednesday his country’s position of support for Russia and criticism of the United States in amidst the tensions between Moscow and the Western powers in the context of the crisis in Ukraine.

Díaz-Canel shared on Twitter the statement released by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs that defends “a diplomatic solution through constructive and respectful dialogue”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the independence of the self-proclaimed separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, in eastern Ukraine.

The decision received economic sanctions from the United States, the European Union and its allies, and also the support of countries like Cuba, which mention Russia’s right to “defense itself”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba also m blamed Washington for threatening Russia and manipulating the international community through an alleged “imminent massive invasion” of Ukraine.

The text published on Wednesday adds that the United States “supplied weapons and military technology, deployed troops in several countries in the region, applied unilateral and unfair sanctions and threatened other reprisals”.

Cuba also recalled that already in 2014 has warned of the dangers of what he considers an “anti-Russian propaganda campaign”.

At that time, during the crisis in Crimea, Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, Havana highlighted that “alarming events were happening in Ukraine”.

“Propagandistic hysteria”

Four days ago, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez criticized the “propagandistic hysteria” of the United States against Russia in the context of the Ukraine crisis, one day after the visit to Havana by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov.

The chancellor “strongly” rejected on Twitter the “propaganda and communication hysteria unleashed by the United States government against Russia” and expressed his opposition to the “expansion of NATO to the borders of this sister country”. “.

In a statement about Borisov’s visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cuba’s Foreigners expressed its “solidarity” with Russia in the face of the “constant disinformation campaigns and propaganda war” by the US.

This trip took place after Russian Vice Chancellor Sergei Ryabkov made statements about his country’s interest in deploying military infrastructure in Cuba and Venezuela, something that provoked a strong reaction in the West.

Díaz-Canel and Putin later spoke by phone about ” bilateral cooperation with commercial, economic and investment”, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov denied that they were discussing any technical-military cooperation or the establishment of Russian bases in Cuba.

Russia delays payment of Cuban debt23174901 )

In the midst of this scenario, the president of the Duma (Russian lower house of parliament), Vyacheslav Volodin, arrived in Cuba this Wednesday, in second visit by a high-ranking Russian politician in less than five days.

The trip also comes one day after the legislature ratified Havana’s $2.3 billion debt restructuring, up to 2027.

The National Assembly of Cuba informed that Volodin will be received by its president, Esteban Lazo, to discuss “the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and interparliamentary ties”.

The Russian delegation saw will then move to Nicaragua, another of Moscow’s allied countries in the region.

The visit of both politicians demonstrates the importance that the two countries attach to their bilateral relationship and the attempt to re-establish the close cooperation they had until the disappearance of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Russia is one of Cuba’s ten largest trading partners, and both define their partnership as “strategic”.

In 2014, Moscow forgave 90% of the debt contracted by the island, valued at US$ 35, 3 billion.

Now extended to

the credits he gave Cuba between 2006 and 2019 to finance projects in the areas of energy, metallurgical industry and transport, as well as for the supply of goods necessary for the development of the island’s economy.

Since the beginning of 2020, Cuba practically stopped paying and then asked to review the conditions, by which the Russian government agreed to postpone the deadline, which will also imply an additional payment of approximately US$ 11 millions.