NewsRussia’s Putin meets Cuban FM, says US restrictions ‘unacceptable’Meeting comes as White House says it wants to see ‘dramatic changes very soon’ in Cuba, calls government ‘failing’.
On Wed, Feb 10, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized new restrictions imposed by the United States on Cuba, labeling them as "unacceptable." This statement was made during a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at the Kremlin,…
On Wed, Feb 10, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized new restrictions imposed by the United States on Cuba, labeling them as "unacceptable." This statement was made during a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at the Kremlin, as reported by Russian state news agencies.
In discussions with Rodriguez, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov advocated against the imposition of a full naval blockade on Cuba by the United States, suggesting negotiations as an alternative. Lavrov emphasized the necessity for Washington to exercise "sound judgement and a responsible approach" and refrain from such plans. He further stated that the cooperation between Russia and Cuba should not be seen as a threat to the US or other nations.
Bruno Rodriguez expressed concerns over the actions of Washington, which he argued undermine the sovereignty of all countries. He affirmed Cuba's commitment to protecting its independence and sovereignty while seeking economic solutions. Rodriguez also highlighted Cuba's willingness to engage in respectful dialogue on equal terms with any nation and reaffirmed its agreements with Moscow.
The recent sanctions have exacerbated Cuba's challenges, particularly major fuel shortages following an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on Jan 29, 2026. This order authorized trade tariffs on oil imports from third countries to Cuba. United Nations experts have condemned this executive order, considering it "unilateral economic coercion with extraterritorial effects."
Lavrov emphasized the necessity for Washington to exercise "sound judgement and a responsible approach" and refrain from such plans.
The White House indicated on Wed, Feb 10, 2026, that significant changes in Cuba are in its best interest, without explicitly calling for a change in government leadership. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked that the current regime is failing, which necessitates dramatic changes.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for President Putin, clarified that the issue of Cuba was not discussed with Washington during recent trilateral peace talks in Geneva. He stressed that Russia values its relationship with Cuba and plans to continue supporting it during challenging times.
The situation has been further complicated by Venezuela, a primary oil supplier to Cuba, ceasing crude oil sales to the island in January 2026. This decision followed the US apprehension of then-President Nicolas Maduro. Additionally, Mexico halted oil shipments to Cuba, responding to threats of tariffs from the US.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.