Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Friday denounced the U.S. policy of "maximum pressure" and economic asphyxiation against Cuba, saying the policy aims to reduce the Cuban government's ability to provide basic goods and services, thereby provoking social unrest.
In a social media post, Rodriguez said the U.S. targets the main sources of external income for the Cuban economy, seeking to provoke public frustration, social unrest and a change in the constitutional order.
Rodriguez listed measures imposed by the U.S. on the banking and financial sectors in recent years, including relisting Cuba on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and sanctioning Cuban financial institutions.
According to a U.S. media report on Friday, the Trump administration's strategy toward Cuba is increasingly focused on intensifying economic sanctions and pressure rather than deploying military forces.
The U.S. has long imposed an economic, financial and trade embargo on Cuba. Following military operations against Venezuela and Iran this year, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that "Cuba is next" and further increased pressure on the country, imposing an oil blockade to intensify sanctions.
US policy against Cuba aims to provoke social unrest: Cuban FM
As the United States renews its diplomatic push to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a Chinese international affairs expert cautioned that a lasting peace remains elusive unless fundamental disputes over territory and security guarantees are addressed.
The Chinese expert's remarks came after U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday in efforts to revive Ukraine peace talks. They are also scheduled to visit Kiev the following day.
Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt strikes on each other's capital during the U.S. envoys' visits.
Teng Jianqun, a prominent Chinese international affairs expert, noted that the current geopolitical climate presents a genuine, albeit fragile, window of opportunity for peace.
"Looking at the current situation, this is indeed a window of opportunity. Since February of this year, the United States has primarily focused its attention on dealing with Iran. Now, six months later, Washington is once again urging a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, signaling that the U.S. has readjusted its strategic focus. In terms of battlefield dynamics, fighting on the frontline has become highly deadlocked. Therefore, it is a critical moment now for both sides to pause and negotiate a resolution to this conflict," said Teng.
Teng added that the U.S. has maintained communication with both Moscow and Kiev, which lays a necessary foundation for discussing a potential ceasefire.
However, the expert warned that significant obstacles remain, particularly regarding territorial sovereignty and the security guarantees that Ukraine demands.
"Given the current situation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, expecting Russia to withdraw, or asking Ukraine to accept a 'land for peace' plan, are both unacceptable to either side. Therefore, the core issue remains to be territorial sovereignty. Meanwhile, Ukraine's security guarantees represent another fundamental concern. If these two basic issues are unresolved, I believe the conflict will continue," said Teng.
Expert warns U.S. unlikely to end Ukraine crisis without resolving core issues
