Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez continues his international tour with an unannounced visit to Russia
14ymedio/EFE, Havana, February 18, 2026 – Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez is continuing his international tour in Russia in search of energy support to alleviate the fuel crisis engulfing the Island, following the collapse of Nicolás Maduro’s Chavista regime. This Wednesday he met in Moscow, without prior announcement, with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and is awaiting a possible meeting at the Kremlin with President Vladimir Putin.
From Russia, the Cuban foreign minister made several statements regarding White House policies and assured that, despite pressure from Washington, Havana will defend its sovereignty and independence and maintain its “unchanged” course.
“We are ready for respectful dialogue, on equal terms, with any country,” Rodríguez said at the start of his meeting with Lavrov in Moscow.
Lavrov, for his part, stated that Russia, along with most members of the international community, calls on the United States to “show common sense” and “refrain from plans for a naval blockade of the Island of Freedom.”
“I would like to reiterate that the actions of the United States, which issued a special decree declaring Cuba a threat, are absolutely unacceptable,” said the head of Russian diplomacy.
He regretted that the same decree stipulated that this threat was aggravated by Cuba’s cooperation with Russia, “which is described in that decree as a hostile and malicious State.”
Regarding relations with Russia, they described them as “historic, fraternal, special, and strategic”
Regarding relations with Russia, they described them as “historic, fraternal, special, and strategic,” and declared that cooperation will continue “above any circumstance” and that the objectives set will be achieved.
Moscow recently announced that it is in contact with Cuban authorities and that oil supplies to the Castro regime are expected, something that has not occurred since the shipment of 100,000 tons of crude in February 2025.
However, Russian airlines have had to suspend their flights to Havana and repatriate several thousand tourists due to the fuel shortage on the Island.
In recent months, the Cuban foreign minister has traveled to various Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Laos, and China, in search of support. This Monday, during a brief visit, the minister met with his Spanish counterpart, in a trip marked by protests from citizens who also accused Pedro Sánchez’s government of complicity with the Cuban dictatorship.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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