Ukraine has announced the closure of its embassy in Havana and a downgrade of diplomatic relations with Cuba, citing the island nation’s “complicity in aggression” through its failure to prevent the recruitment of Cuban citizens into the Russian army.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha made the announcement on X on Wednesday, Oct. 29, shortly after Ukraine voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the US embargo on Cuba.
“This move is not sudden. And it has serious reasons,” Sybiha wrote.
“We remember the Cuban President’s wish of ‘success’ to Putin in his war of aggression against Ukraine. We heard it well.”
According to Sybiha, Kyiv’s decision reflects not hostility toward the Cuban people, but condemnation of Havana’s silence amid evidence of widespread recruitment of its nationals by Moscow.
“Thousands of them have signed contracts, joining the ranks of soldiers directly engaged in combat operations on Ukrainian soil,” he said.
“The unwillingness of Havana to stop the massive deployment of its nationals in the Russian war against Ukraine constitutes complicity in aggression and must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
The minister emphasized that Ukraine’s stance is consistent with its broader commitment to defending the principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Cuba, a longstanding ally of Russia, has maintained close political and military ties with Moscow since the Soviet era. In recent years, Havana has echoed Kremlin narratives and refrained from condemning Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
By closing its embassy in Havana, Ukraine joins a short list of Western-aligned states to have significantly reduced their diplomatic presence on the island.
“Ukraine will always oppose such a practice and defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” Sybiha added.
“Russia is using Cuba to circumvent sanctions imposed to force it to end its invasion,” Andriy Yermak, Head of the Presidential Office said Wednesday.
“Thousands of Cuban soldiers are fighting against Ukraine as part of the Russian occupation forces, gaining combat experience, while Havana is increasingly involved in military and intelligence activities that pose a threat to international security.”