Russia in the Western Hemisphere: Committed to standing alongside Cuba.

According to RIA Novosti on April 10, during his visit to Havana, Cuba, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov made strong statements. Despite pressure from Washington, Moscow affirmed that it will not leave. Russia continues to consider Cuba a core foreign policy priority.

According to Ryabkov, Washington is obsessed with the idea of ​​pushing Russia and China out of the region. However, Russia's presence in the Western Hemisphere is unshakeable. He emphasized that Cuba is one of Moscow's top priorities. Turning away from the "Island of Freedom" is completely out of the question.

The key issue now is ensuring energy security for Cuba. Moscow is not stopping at the "Anatoly Kolodkin" oil tanker. Mr. Ryabkov said it is too early to talk about the next steps, but aid will continue.

Earlier, on March 30, the Russian Ministry of Transport confirmed that the "Anatoly Kolodkin" vessel, carrying 100,000 tons of crude oil, had docked near Havana. The Kremlin revealed that Russia and the United States had discussed this matter beforehand.

The Russian diplomat strongly condemned the US sanctions. Support for Cuba will be carried out in collaboration with Russian partners. The common goal is to uphold international law and the equality of rights among nations.

In addition, the Russian delegation also discussed tourism projects with the Cuban government. Plans to resume direct flights are being strongly promoted.

Cuba is currently facing a severe fuel crisis. The situation worsened following US President Donald Trump's executive order on January 29th. The island nation experiences frequent power outages, leading to several protests.

The Cuban government asserts that Washington is using energy to stifle the economy. The purpose of the blockade is to make living conditions unbearable for the people.