Moscow: "US Resorts to Any Trick to Tighten Blockade on Cuba"

Russia Hopes Media Reports on US Plans for Naval Blockade of Cuba Are Unfounded
Russia hopes media reports about the alleged plans of the United States to increase pressure on Cuba, including imposing a naval blockade to deny it oil imports, are unfounded, stated Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova this Wednesday.

In response to a question during a press conference, the spokeswoman recalled that "Cuba has endured the extremely harsh yoke of an economic, commercial, and financial blockade illegitimately imposed by Washington for nearly 70 years."

"At the same time, the United States resorts to all kinds of tricks to further tighten said blockade, including, among other things, placing Cuba on the odious list of 'state sponsors of terrorism,'" she declared.

Deep Concern Over Rumors and US Actions
Rumors about new pressure measures against the island, she argued, "cannot but cause deep concern," especially following the "forcible capture of the current President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife" by the US in early January, in "violation of the fundamental norms and principles of international law."

"Even more so, when representatives of the US Administration have repeatedly uttered threats against Cuba, including their readiness to 'blow everyone there to smithereens,' and have pressured Havana to accept a sort of 'agreement,'" Zakharova noted.

"We hope the mentioned publications are unfounded. Common sense must prevail in Washington as well," appealed the spokeswoman.

Warning of Further Violations and Humanitarian Crisis
Otherwise, she said, it would constitute a "new flagrant violation of international law, a subordination of existing international law norms to US national legislation and the sanctions regime it has imposed, an inhumane interference in the dignity of Cuban citizens, and a provocation of a humanitarian crisis on the island."

Background on Reported US Plans
The media outlet Politico reported last Friday, citing sources, that the administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing a total blockade on oil imports to the Caribbean country.

Washington has already pursued a similar policy in Venezuela, where in early January it carried out a large-scale attack and kidnapped President Maduro. Numerous countries around the world, including China, Russia, and Cuba, condemned US actions in the region.