Cuba's Diaz-Canel accuses NATO, US of pushing Russia into war

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Cuban president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, accused Washington and NATO of threatening Russia consistently and expanding their military hegemony in Europe.

"Russia has been dragged into an aggressive environment. For decades, the US has pursued the extension of its military hegemony around [Russia] through the continuing NATO expansion in Eastern Europe," Diaz-Canel said. 

The US and NATO also continue to "fan the flames" of the war in Ukraine through escalating sanctions, according to the Cuban president, the latest of which are Biden's banning on Russian oil exports.

After the end of the Cold War, NATO took the route to expand in 1999  "in violation of commitments by North American, European and Soviet leaders" after east and west Germany unified, according to the president. 

Regarding the current crisis in Ukraine, Diaz-Canel said it could have been avoided if Russia's security guarantees were taken seriously and with due respect. 

"Thinking that Russia will remain defenseless in the face of NATO's aggressive military encirclement is at least irresponsible, the country has been driven to the line," Diaz-Canel added. 

Diaz-Canel furthermore addressed the issue of persisting use of economic and financial sanctions as a means of leverage against countries, saying that the sanctions do not solve the crisis but rather only make the situation worse and harm the global economy. 

The global economy has already been compromised over the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, aid Diaz-Canel.

Read more: Diaz-Canel thanks Putin for aid amid Covid, US sanctions

"[US] Imperialism is fanning the flames, and it is doing so on foreign territory, using European countries as its backyard. Cuba has constantly warned about all this at various international fora and other events," the president said.

Responding to Russia's military operation in Ukraine, comprehensive, draconian sanctions have been implemented on Moscow by the US and European countries. The sanctions aimed to isolate Russia from the global economy: Moscow's assets were freezed, it's been cut off from SWIFT, its oil exports are banned and much more. 

Read more: Why cutting Russia from SWIFT is bad for the West

Sanctions on Russia will cause the world economy to dip, inflation, surging energy prices, and low stock prices.