Statement by Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Vladimir Kolokoltsev at a GA Meeting on the Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Embargo imposed by the USA against Cuba
Mr. President,
Distinguished colleagues,
This morning, most of us, without giving it a second thought, turned on the lights and put the kettle on. For us, having electricity is something that we take for granted. Now let us imagine that same ordinary day in Cuba. You wake up and there is no electricity, no running water because the pumps have stopped, food in the fridge has gone bad, public transportation is not operating, and the nearest hospital is running on emergency generators. For millions of Cubans, this is a tragic everyday reality.
These findings are also corroborated by the UN itself. According to the assessments of UN experts, 4.2 million people in Cuba need humanitarian assistance. In some parts of the country, power outages last for two or three days at a time. Millions of people are suffering from water supply disruptions, and tens of thousands of children are not receiving timely vaccinations. Humanitarian supplies that have already reached the island cannot be distributed due to fuel shortages.
At first glance, these seem to be very different problems, but in reality, they all have one root. They do not arise because there are no countries willing to supply fuel. These problems are rooted in extraterritorial, unilateral restrictive measures that make it possible to obstruct shipments even between two sovereign States. That is precisely why ensuring Cuba’s fuel supply today is no longer a matter of trade, but a humanitarian imperative.
The blockade of Cuba is a striking example of how Washington has elevated illegitimate, unilateral measures of intimidation and punishment against unwelcome governments to the status of official State policy – a policy to which the international community has consistently said a firm “no.” We stress that it is for over 30 years now, since 1992, that a UNGA Resolution expressing the international community’s solidarity with the legitimate aspirations of the Cuban people has been adopted by an overwhelming majority of UN Member States.
We regret that the convening of this GA session was met with the strongest possible opposition, including intense pressure exerted on some countries to discourage them from supporting Havana’s initiative. The United States seeks to blame the Cuban leadership for virtually anything and everything, just to somehow legitimize its unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) and threats of the use of force against the Island of Freedom. The US blockade of Cuba is nothing but an instrument for asserting control over that territory in an attempt to rekindle the Monroe Doctrine.
Let us now, once again, talk about what the US embargo against Cuba means in practice. It means a sweeping ban on trade with the island for US companies and individuals and for Cuba to export goods into the US. It also means prohibition of dollar transactions on the island and restrictions for US tourists to travel to Cuba. But, most importantly, it means enshrining the right for the US to impose extraterritorial unilateral sanctions and punitive measures against third countries if they cooperate with Cuba, thereby creating a “chilling effect” on foreign investors. The Cuban people have been living under such oppression for nearly 70 years.
The bottom line here is that the blockade incurs enormous economic costs, hampers socioeconomic reforms, and deprives the country of access to modern technology, energy, and investment. Long-standing, illegitimate sanctions have undermined the normal functioning of the national financial system and prevented local economic actors from taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by global financial markets and relevant development institutions. This inflicts significant and unjustifiable harm on the public well-being and health and fuels social tensions. Hiding behind their lofty rhetoric about how they allegedly “care about the well-being of the Cuban people,” the US leadership is de facto pursuing a cynical policy geared towards overthrowing an undesirable political system, while paying little regard for the unbearable hardships and suffering of millions of Cuban citizens.
It is clear to everyone that since the White House imposed a fuel blockade on the island this past January, hydrocarbon supplies have virtually come to a halt (the only exception was the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, which delivered 100,000 metric tons of crude oil to Cuba on March 31 as humanitarian aid). Against this backdrop, and amid increased seasonal demand for electricity, the daily power generation shortfall has reached 2,100–2,200 MW, with constant rolling blackouts occurring throughout the country, lasting up to 30 hours in some regions.
Another painful blow has come in the form of US restrictions targeting Cuba’s tourism and mining sectors, which forced a number of major foreign investors (from Spain and Canada) either to withdraw from the Cuban market or drastically reduce their operations in the country in the face of secondary sanctions from Washington.
Under these circumstances, it would be a great disservice to the Cuban people if one blamed exclusively the authorities and their miscalculations for the situation on the island while ignoring the suffering of millions of ordinary citizens. Such an approach flies in the face of the norms of humanitarian law and basic human morality. This is not about the blunders of the authorities; rather, it is about the cruelty of the blockade. The point is that if it were not for the solidarity and support of its people, no government would have remained in power for so many years and under the most brutal and illegitimate coercive measures imposed by hostile external forces.
It is due to the US embargo that the situation in Cuba has become so critical. According to experts’ estimates, GDP contracted by approximately 20–24% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the corresponding period in 2025. By contrast, even in 1993 – which was the worst year for the economy during the so-called “Special Period in a Time of Peace” – the decline was as high as 15%. The inflation rate in the January–March period reached over 13%, while agricultural prices rose by 31%.
Infant mortality has risen sharply – from 4.0 per 1,000 live births in 2017 to 9.9 per 1,000. The national immunization program is at risk of disruption. The population is essentially unable to store or prepare food, access to drinking water is severely limited, and public transportation has been paralyzed. The distribution of bread as part of the rationing system has been halved and is not being carried out regularly. Moreover, the daily bread ration itself has been reduced from 80 to 60 grams per person. For us, these figures are very telling indeed. During the darkest days of the Siege of Leningrad, that ration was 125 grams per person. We understand that the Cuban basic food basket includes not only bread; nevertheless, the figures do speak for themselves.
The dramatic developments surrounding the Island of Freedom warrant a clear and decisive response from the international community. Cuba must be guaranteed the opportunity to receive the assistance it needs, including humanitarian aid, without any political stipulations. We hope that the US will ultimately adopt a humane approach to resolving the current situation.
At the same time, it is noteworthy that the Cuban economy is demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of unprecedented pressure from the United States. In June, the Cuban Government announced the most extensive reforms over the past 15 years, namely a package of 176 measures to liberalize the island’s economy. The authorities have closely reviewed the proposals of experts and views of the public regarding the transformation of the country’s economic and social model.
In the modern world, there should be no place for externally imposed inhumane restrictions that tend to undermine the economic stability and social well-being of a sovereign State. Unilateral coercive measures are inconsistent with the UN Charter; not only do they restrict the right of the Cubans to freely and independently determine their national political, economic, and social systems, but also undermine the collective efforts of the international community to address global challenges, including ensuring food and energy security, as well as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
In interstate relations, differences can be resolved through mutually respectful dialogue. To justify persistent and tightening sanctions, Washington is alleging that there are threats emanating from Cuba. But if fuel is used to keep power plants, hospitals, and water supply systems operating, then whom, exactly, will this threaten? The US’s blatant desire to “sink” the island goes beyond the generally accepted norms of civilized behavior. We call on Washington to immediately lift all illegal UCMs, to remove Cuba from the discriminatory US list of so-called State Sponsors of Terrorism, and to ensure that all countries strictly adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interrelationship. The Island of Freedom deserves nothing but respect for its sovereignty and its people do have the right to determine their own destiny.
The response of the international community to what is going on in Cuba could be a game changer: this is precisely what will determine whether US actions toward Cuba remain a dangerous exception or become the new norm in international relations that is likely to be applied to other countries as well.
Russia provides much more than just political support: we have been consistently delivering tangible humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people. Cuba has traditionally been among the priority recipients of Russian humanitarian aid, including through international organizations. The World Food Program (WFP) serves as the principal multilateral channel for supplying food aid to the country’s vulnerable groups of people. Between 2018 and 2025, the Russian Federation contributed $18 million in funding to the WFP to facilitate the implementation of humanitarian projects in Cuba. In 2026, there are plans to contribute another $2 million. In addition to direct food assistance, Russia is financing long-term projects aimed at enhancing the country’s food security. Thus, Russia provided $5 million in funding to the WFP between 2021 and 2025 to develop and implement a sustainable school feeding system in Cuba. Despite some externally created obstacles, our humanitarian efforts continue. According to the Russian Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief, a shipment of humanitarian aid – including 211 metric tons of sunflower oil enriched with vitamins A and D – intended for delivery to the port of Santiago de Cuba has been temporarily delayed in Venezuela; however, it remains part of the ongoing program to support the Cuban population.
We reaffirm our solidarity with the people and government of our brotherly Cuba. We will continue to strengthen our close bonds of friendship, mutual support, cooperation, and comprehensive partnership. History has shown – and it is clear to all – that any attempts to “bring the Cuban people to their knees” are doomed to failure.
Thank you.
