Putin Vows Support for Cuba Amid US Sanctions: ‘We Don’t Accept Anything of the Sort’
Moscow, Russia — In a significant diplomatic encounter in Moscow on February 18, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla at the Kremlin, where he delivered a firm message of political and moral support for Cuba amid increasing pressure from the United States. At the heart of the discussions was a new wave of U.S. sanctions targeting the Caribbean island—measures that Russia says it will not accept and views as unjust and harmful.
Russia’s Rejection of U.S. Sanctions
Putin’s remarks signalled a clear rejection of recent U.S. moves to tighten economic restrictions against Cuba. In a lengthy meeting with Rodríguez, he described the sanctions as “unacceptable” and reiterated Russia’s long-standing backing for the island nation’s sovereignty and right to choose its own political and economic path.
“You know how we feel about this. We don’t accept anything of the sort,” he said, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS.
This stance underscores the historical alliance between Moscow and Havana, a partnership that dates back to the Cold War era when Cuba became one of the Soviet Union’s closest allies in the Western Hemisphere. Putin stressed that Russia has “always been on Cuba’s side in its struggle for independence” and emphasised the enduring nature of their bilateral relationship.
The Russian leader’s comments reflect a consistent pattern of Moscow positioning itself as a counterweight to U.S. influence in regions Washington has historically considered its sphere of interest. For Cuba, this support provides crucial political backing at a time when economic pressures are mounting.
US Pressure and the Fuel Crisis in Cuba
The Cuban government has been grappling with a deepening energy crisis—intensified by Washington’s renewed focus on tightening the long-standing U.S. embargo. Earlier this year, the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump issued an executive order that empowered sanctions targeting countries that sell oil to Cuba. This has sharply disrupted Cuba’s already fragile fuel supply, as key suppliers such as Venezuela and Mexico curtailed exports amid the threat of punitive tariffs.
Rodríguez described the situation in Cuba as increasingly dire, emphasising that the sanctions have exacerbated fuel shortages, caused widespread blackouts, and strained the island’s economy. He accused the United States of violating international law and undermining multilateral principles, framing Washington’s actions as an assault on the sovereignty and economic stability of not only Cuba but all nations that do not align with U.S. policy.
The impact on ordinary Cubans has been severe. Rolling blackouts have become routine, disrupting daily life, commerce, and essential services. Hospitals have struggled to maintain operations, and food preservation has become difficult without reliable refrigeration. The humanitarian dimension of the crisis adds urgency to Cuba’s search for international support.
Russia’s Diplomatic Push and Call for Negotiations
Alongside Putin’s comments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held separate discussions with Rodríguez, voicing Moscow’s opposition to any potential full naval blockade against Cuba. Lavrov urged the U.S. to abandon hard-line tactics and instead pursue negotiations and dialogue, arguing that common sense and responsible diplomacy should guide international actions.
He stated that Russia, along with many other countries, rejects the framing of cooperation between Moscow and Havana as a threat to U.S. interests. This reflects Moscow’s frustration with what it perceives as Washington’s tendency to view any engagement with traditional allies through a confrontational lens.
Lavrov’s statements reflect a broader Russian effort to position itself as a defender of what it describes as the legitimate rights of smaller nations facing coercive policies from Western powers. His language emphasised mutual respect and diplomacy, even as tensions with the United States over sanctions continue to mount.
Moscow’s Support: Symbolic and Material?
Although the Kremlin stopped short of announcing specific material commitments during the Moscow talks, recent reports suggest that Russia is exploring ways to provide tangible support to Cuba, particularly in terms of fuel supplies. State media have cited Russian diplomatic missions in Havana as indicating that oil and petroleum product shipments could be delivered as humanitarian aid in the near future—a move that would directly counter Washington’s goal of economically isolating Havana.
The possibility of such support highlights the strategic importance Moscow places on its relationship with Cuba, as well as its broader geopolitical desire to challenge U.S. influence in regions historically considered within the American sphere of interest. It also reflects Moscow’s continued reliance on alliances formed during the Cold War as a pillar of its foreign policy.
Any Russian oil shipments to Cuba would represent a direct challenge to U.S. sanctions and could escalate tensions between Moscow and Washington. However, by framing such deliveries as humanitarian aid, Russia could seek to avoid direct confrontation while still providing crucial support to its ally.
Historical Context: Russia-Cuba Relations
The relationship between Russia and Cuba has deep historical roots. During the Cold War, Cuba became a strategic Soviet ally just 90 miles from U.S. shores, culminating in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. After the Soviet collapse, ties weakened as Russia focused on domestic challenges, but they have revived significantly in recent years.
Today, cooperation spans multiple areas:
Economic partnerships including investment and trade
Energy cooperation with Russian companies exploring Cuban offshore oil
Tourism with increased Russian visitors to Cuban resorts
Military-technical cooperation maintaining Cuba’s Soviet-era equipment
Political alignment on issues of sovereignty and non-intervention
Cuba’s Political Response
For Cuba, Rodríguez’s visit was not just a plea for aid but also a political statement of resistance. He reiterated that Havana would not abandon its sovereign choices or political course under U.S. pressure, framing the crisis as part of a larger struggle against what he described as unjust international practices led by Washington.
The Cuban foreign minister thanked Putin and Russia’s leadership for their “extraordinary and unwavering solidarity” during these challenging times. His words reflected Havana’s appreciation for any support that helps counterbalance U.S. pressure, even if immediate material assistance remains uncertain.
Wider Implications
The Moscow meeting and Russia’s robust public defence of Cuba carry wider implications for global geopolitics. They highlight the persistence of Cold War-era alliances and the modern contest for influence between global powers such as Russia and the United States. By openly challenging U.S. sanctions and advocating for Havana, Moscow is reaffirming its commitment to a multipolar world order—one where it seeks to counterbalance U.S. regional dominance and protect allies facing Western economic pressure.
Key geopolitical dimensions:
U.S.-Russia rivalry:
The Cuba issue adds another layer to already strained relations between Washington and Moscow, with both sides using the island as a proxy for broader strategic competition.
Latin American alignment:
Russia’s support for Cuba resonates across Latin America, where many governments resist U.S. pressure and seek diversified international partnerships.
Sanctions as a tool:
The dispute highlights the growing use of economic sanctions as a weapon of statecraft and the resistance such measures provoke from targeted nations and their allies.
Humanitarian concerns:
The fuel crisis in Cuba raises questions about the humanitarian impact of sanctions and whether exceptions should be made for basic necessities.
The Road Ahead
For Cuba, the path forward remains uncertain. While Russian political support is valuable, the island’s immediate needs are material: fuel to power its economy, food to feed its people, and investment to rebuild its infrastructure. Whether Moscow can provide meaningful assistance beyond rhetoric will determine whether this diplomatic engagement translates into tangible relief.
For Russia, the Cuba relationship offers strategic value disproportionate to the resources invested. A Cuban ally in the Western Hemisphere complicates U.S. regional dominance and provides Moscow with a platform for projecting influence.
For the United States, the situation presents a dilemma. Continued pressure may further alienate Cuba and push it closer to Russia and China. Yet easing sanctions without reciprocal changes in Cuban policy could be politically difficult.
Conclusion: Enduring Alliance, Uncertain Future
The meeting between Putin and Rodríguez served both as a reaffirmation of traditional ties and as a pointed geopolitical message—one that signals Moscow’s refusal to acquiesce in sanctions it views as illegitimate and its determination to back allied states confronting sustained U.S. economic pressure.
Whether this support will translate into concrete relief for Cuba’s energy crisis remains to be seen. But the political signal is clear: in the contest between Washington and Moscow, Havana can count on its old ally.
Putin’s message delivered. Cuba’s crisis continues. The Cold War alliance endures.
