Kremlin warns Cuba tensions rising, urges focus on humanitarian relief

Russia’s call for restraint and humanitarian focus in Cuba

MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday that the situation in Cuba was heating up and called for restraint after a deadly incident with a Florida-registered speedboat off the coast of the Caribbean island.

Deadly speedboat incident off Cuban coast

Cuban forces killed four exiles and wounded six others who sailed into Cuban waters aboard a speedboat on Wednesday and opened fire on a Cuban patrol in what Russia condemned as an "aggressive provocation by the United States" at a time of heightened tensions with Washington.

Peskov emphasizes socio-economic and humanitarian needs

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the most important thing was to resolve Cubans' socio-economic and humanitarian needs.

Quotes on humanitarian priorities

"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.

Appeal for restraint around the island

"As for security around the island, it is, of course, very important that everyone remain restrained and refrain from any provocative actions".

Reporting and editing credits

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy PapachristouEditing by Andrew Osborn)