Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleAfter a deadly Florida speedboat clash near Cuba, the Kremlin warns tensions are escalating. Peskov urges restraint and says humanitarian needs of Cuban citizens must be addressed amid rising U.S.-Cuba friction.
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.
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.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the most important thing was to resolve Cubans' socio-economic and humanitarian needs.
"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.
"As for security around the island, it is, of course, very important that everyone remain restrained and refrain from any provocative actions".
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy PapachristouEditing by Andrew Osborn)
The Kremlin says the situation around Cuba is escalating following a deadly clash at sea. Dmitry Peskov urges restraint and prioritizing humanitarian solutions for Cuban citizens.
A Florida-registered speedboat entered Cuban waters and exchanged fire with a Cuban patrol, leaving four dead and six wounded, prompting Russian calls for calm.
Rising U.S.–Cuba–Russia tensions add geopolitical risk that can influence energy flows, sanctions dynamics, and broader emerging-market sentiment.
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