Russian Foreign Ministry Hopes US Realizes Futility of Sanctions Pressure

The Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the reestablishment of US-Cuba diplomatic relations and expressed its hope that Washington is aware of the futility of sanctions pressure on other countries.

MOSCOW, December 18 (Sputnik) — The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its hope that Washington is aware of the futility of sanctions pressure on other countries, as the situation with Cuba proved.

"It is specific that the US president has recognized the futility of years of trying to "isolate" Cuba. It is left to hope that Washington will be quick to realize the futility of similar sanctions pressure on other countries," the ministry said.

In 2014, the United States, along with its allies and the European Union, imposed sanctions on Russia over Moscow’s alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis.

US-Cuba Relations Normalization in Interests of Both Countries

The decisions of the United States and Cuba to normalize bilateral relations are in the interests of both countries and international security, Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

"We believe that the solutions declared and concrete steps made in the United States and Cuba, aimed at normalization of bilateral dialogue, are in the interests of both countries and international security in general," the ministry said.

On Wednesday, Obama announced that the United States is to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than 50 years.

The same day, Cuban leader Raul Castro confirmed that his country and the United States had agreed to restore diplomatic relations but noted that it was too early to speak about the end of the economic sanctions implemented against the island.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated following the Cuban revolution of 1959, with the United States introducing an embargo on nearly all imports from Cuba and pushing for democratic reforms in the island country.