MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/. Russia has no right to leave Cuba, its closest partner in the Caribbean, stranded, so support to this Latin American country will continue, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told TASS.

Commenting on reports that a Russian tanker carrying oil has arrived in Cuba, the senior Russian diplomat described the developments as "a victory of common sense." "Throughout a lengthy decades-long period when the United States put increasing pressure on Cuba, we have not concealed our intentions to stand shoulder to shoulder with Havana and render assistance to it," he noted.

What Ryabkov called Russia’s principled action is underpinned by humanitarian reasons. "We are also driven by the understanding that Cuba is our closest partner in the Caribbean and that we just have no right to let it down. So, support to Cuba will continue," he said.

"This assistance has never been more necessary" amid an acute fuel crisis in the country impacted by the American blockade, the Russian diplomat explained.