Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga explained the decision of the Ukrainian delegation to vote against the UN General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the American embargo on Cuba. According to the minister, this step has justified reasons and is not unexpected for the international community.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Reasons for Ukraine’s Vote Against the UN Resolution
Andriy Sybiga emphasized that Ukraine has not forgotten about the open support of Russia’s aggressive policies by the Cuban leadership. In particular, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel personally wished Vladimir Putin “success” in the war against Ukraine during an official meeting in Moscow in 2024.
“We remember the wishes of the President of Cuba to Putin for ‘success’ in his war of aggression against Ukraine. We heard this loud and clear. This year, we decided to close our embassy in Havana and downgrade our diplomatic relations,” Sybiga stated.
The minister also stressed that Kyiv respects the Cuban people’s right to a dignified life, and the vote is not aimed against the island’s residents but is a response to the inaction of the Cuban authorities regarding their citizens’ participation in the war against Ukraine on the side of the Russian Federation.
Cuban Mercenaries and Cuba’s Strategic Cooperation with Russia
According to the Foreign Minister, thousands of Cuban citizens have signed contracts with the Russian army and are directly participating in combat operations against Ukraine. He called on the international community to condemn Cuba’s unwillingness to stop the mass involvement of its citizens in the war, which can be seen as complicity in Russian aggression.
The head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, also expressed his position, calling the Cuban authorities a “strategic asset of Russia” due to their support for the invasion of Ukraine. Yermak pointed out that Havana is increasingly involved in military and intelligence activities on Moscow’s side and is helping Russia circumvent international sanctions imposed to end the war.
In May 2024, during a visit to Moscow, President Díaz-Canel, in addition to statements of support, publicly wished Russia “success” in the so-called “special military operation,” which effectively means open support for Russian aggression against Ukraine.