The Kremlin said on Thursday that the situation in and around Cuba appears to be escalating and emphasized the need to address humanitarian concerns after a deadly maritime incident off the Caribbean island.
Cuban forces killed four exiles and wounded six others who sailed into Cuban waters aboard a Florida-registered speedboat on Wednesday and opened fire on a Cuban patrol, according to official accounts. Russia described the episode as an "aggressive provocation by the United States" at a time of heightened tensions with Washington.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed the episode in remarks to reporters, stressing that resolving the socio-economic and humanitarian needs of Cuban citizens should be a priority.
"The situation around Cuba, as we can see, is heating up. The main thing is the humanitarian component. All humanitarian issues concerning Cuban citizens must be resolved, and no one should create obstacles," Peskov told reporters.
Peskov also spoke about security concerns in the waters surrounding the island and urged caution from all sides. He underscored the importance of avoiding actions that could further inflame the situation.
"As for security around the island, it is, of course, very important that everyone remain restrained and refrain from any provocative actions".
The Kremlin framed the incident as occurring amid a tense period in relations between Russia and the United States, and Moscow singled out what it called an aggressive provocation by the United States in response to the exchange of gunfire and the fatalities and injuries resulting from the speedboat's arrival in Cuban waters.
Officials in Moscow prioritized the humanitarian component of the episode and called for the removal of obstacles to meeting the needs of Cuban citizens. They also urged restraint in the area around the island to prevent further escalation.
Beyond the immediate details of the maritime confrontation and Moscow's public statements, other aspects of the episode were not detailed in the Kremlin's remarks. The Kremlin's comments focused on humanitarian resolution and on a call for all parties to refrain from provocative acts amid heightened international tensions.