MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russia strongly condemns the cruel and illegal means the US uses to pressure Cuba, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated in light of the US decision to keep Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"Russia is firm and consistent in its support of the full and immediate lift of trade and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the US, and the removal of the island from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. All pressure measures against Havana are completely illegal and are a blatant violation of the UN principles. We strongly condemn this cruel illegitimate policy," she noted.

According to the diplomat, this latest hostile move by Washington toward Cuba is nothing but an artificial reason for justifying the illegitimate policy to economically suffocate the independent nation. "The fabricated pretext under which Havana was re-included in this list in 2021, the refusal to extradite members of the Colombian National Liberation Army, who were on the island at the time to hold talks with the Colombian government, has long been irrelevant," the diplomat noted. "Moreover, everyone can clearly recognize that the steps taken by Havana to counter terrorism are exemplary and are acknowledged as such by the overwhelming majority of the global community's countries. The most appalling thing is that such controversial decisions by Washington distort the very definition of terrorism and ‘nullify’ state efforts to combat this threat."

Washington’s goal

According to the spokeswoman, it is obvious that "in order to achieve just one single goal, a change of power in Cuba, Washington is ready to resort to any methods, to treacherously interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign country, to subject its population to destitution, all the while blatantly ignoring the hailed by Americans, although only rhetorically, human rights and humanitarian values."

"It is crucial to recognize that this is not limited to Cuba, but all of ‘disobedient’ governments in the eyes of the White House. The events of recent years graphically illustrate that unilateral restrictive measures have become a core of the US official state policy," the diplomat added.

She stressed that the sanctions "stick" is blatantly used to intimidate and punish any country that dares to pursue an independent, national interest-oriented policy.

Nevertheless, according to Zakharova, Russia is confident that despite any hindrances, Cuba will further gradually develop its foreign economic ties. "We will certainly continue to consistently fight alongside Cuban friends for the removal of the island's embargo and against the usage of unilateral sanctions in violation of international law in the interests of building a fair multipolar, genuinely democratic world order," she stressed.