Russia calls

Moscow, January 15 - The "blackmail and threats" language used by US President Donald Trump regarding Cuba is unacceptable, declared Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova today.

"We are closely monitoring the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean. We express our concern about the increased tensions and the escalation of aggressive rhetoric, particularly toward our friend, the Republic of Cuba. We advocate resolving any disputes between states through political and diplomatic means," Zakharova said at a press conference.

The diplomat emphasized that, "such language is simply unacceptable, especially with regard to the island of freedom, its people, and its government, who have been suffering for decades the full horror of illegitimate, illegal and unlawful sanctions.”

We hope that, ultimately, pragmatism and common sense will prevail, she added.

On January 11, Trump stated that "there will be no more oil or money for Cuba" from Venezuela, urging the island's government to make a deal with the United States "before it's too late."

Following a U.S. military operation on January 3 in Venezuela, in which President NicolásMaduro and his wife Cilia Flores were kidnapped, Trump said that Cuba "looked ready to fall," although he considered it unlikely that military action against the island would be necessary.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel indicated that Cuba has been under attack from the United States for 66 years and is ready to defend itself to the last drop of blood. (Source: Prensa Latina)