Russia strongly condemns the US decision to keep Cuba on the list of sponsors of terrorism, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today.

All measures taken to put pressure on Havana are completely illegal and flagrantly violate the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, therefore we strongly condemn this inhumane and illegitimate practice, Zakharova said in a statement on Wednesday.

The spokeswoman also stressed that Russia advocates the complete and immediate lifting of the US economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba, as well as the removal of Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

It is absolutely clear that Washington, for the sole purpose of achieving a change of power in Cuba, is ready to use any methods, traitorously interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign country, she added.

Zakharova also expressed her confidence that Cuba will continue to develop its foreign economic relations progressively despite any obstacles.

On 12 December, the US State Department decided to keep Cuba on its list of terrorist-sponsoring nations, which also includes the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, Iran and Syria.