Russian Deputy Foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov: Economy dominates at meetings in Havana

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov with the President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel
Photo: Russian MFA

Russia will not leave the western hemisphere regardless of the United States’ opinion, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said at a press conference.

"Russia is not going to leave the western hemisphere, no matter what they say in Washington. They support the idea of ousting Russia and China from this region," the diplomat said, TASS quotes.

"Our relations with Cuba are of a special nature. Both politically and emotionally, Cuba means a lot to the people of Russia. For us, Cubans are brothers. And we can't just betray Cuba, it's completely out of the question, we can't leave it to its fate. This would fundamentally contradict to what lies at the heart of our brotherhood and our friendship."

Ryabkov took part in the Russian-Cuban inter-ministerial consultations in Havana and met with President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel.

The main topics of the talks

Economic issues were among the main topics of the talks with representatives of the Cuban authorities, including President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Sergey Ryabkov said at a press conference.

"We certainly discussed economic issues at all meetings in Havana, it was among the main topics," Ryabkov said, answering a question from TASS. "The issue of ensuring the island's energy security is a priority. But it's too early to say what the next steps will be. It is well known that we generally do not limit ourselves to the supply of that batch of oil that has already arrived on the island on the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin."

Ryabkov also said that in light of the current difficulties that Cuba is experiencing due to the ongoing blockade by the United States, "practical cooperation – providing the island with hydrocarbons and stabilizing its energy system – is of particular importance."

He said that Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva, who also holds the post of minister of foreign trade and investment, visited Russia four times over the past few months.

"This is significant in terms of the intensity of our contacts," Ryabkov said. "I want to note the extremely businesslike nature of our conversations. We don't focus on protocol, on decorative aspects in our relations, but purely on the specifics of the tasks that we face. This is what our leaders are aiming at, and the Cuban president was as specific as possible in today's conversation," Ryabkov said, describing the meeting with Diaz-Canel.

He said that the illegality of US blockade, including the energy restrictions, "is obvious to many in the international community, and not only Russia is concerned about this issue. I think that those who understand that international law and the sovereign equality of states is not a slogan or an empty phrase should perceive the current situation as a task that needs to be solved in practical terms. That is, to act and help Cuba by standing guard over these principles."

Ryabkov also said that Russia has such partners in the international community. "We will also cooperate with them," he said.

The resumption of direct flights

Sergey Ryabkov said that he had discussed with the Cuban leadership several issues of practical cooperation, including the resumption of direct flights between the two countries.

"I want to say that a number of issues of practical cooperation between Russia and Cuba were also considered," the diplomat said at a press conference. "This includes the resumption of direct flights and a number of tourism projects."

Ryabkov said that on Thursday he held "an intensive round of consultations with the Cuban leadership on the entire spectrum of Russian-Cuban relations. The president of Cuba considered it possible to receive us and had a fairly detailed conversation about the situation in the country."

The Russian side expressed solidarity with the government and people of Cuba

Sergey Ryabkov expressed solidarity with the government and people of Cuba during political consultations in Havana, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Russian diplomat held political consultations with Cuban First Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Penalver Portal and Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio in Havana on April 9. "Ryabkov was hosted by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva, and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez," the statement said.

"The Russian side expressed solidarity with the government and people of Cuba, condemned the US economic, trade, and financial blockade and energy embargo, and stressed the imperative of removing Cuba from the US State Department's list of so-called state sponsors of terrorism," the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.

The ministry noted that the parties engaged in a thorough exchange on pressing bilateral, regional, and international matters during the contacts conducted in the spirit of Russian-Cuban allied relations and strategic partnership.

"The sides affirmed an identity of approaches on the overwhelming majority of key contemporary issues. Both countries voiced their unwavering stance regarding the unacceptability of unilateral coercive measures, interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, and the use of force to displace 'undesirable' governments," the statement reads.

The Russian Foreign Ministry underscored Moscow's resolute commitment to supporting Cuba's fight to uphold its sovereignty: "Russia reaffirmed its strong determination to provide Cuba with necessary support <…> in its just struggle to defend sovereignty, and its commitment to steadily strengthening Russian-Cuban dialogue across all areas."

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