US says up to 5,000 Cuban mercenaries may be fighting for Russia in Ukraine: #Reuters

US President Donald Trump's administration is mobilising American diplomats to lobby against a UN resolution calling for the lifting of the decades-long trade embargo on Cuba. Washington is citing Havana's support for Russia in its war against Ukraine as one of its arguments.

Source: an internal US State Department document seen by Reuters, as reported by European Pravda

Details: As part of the campaign, US diplomats will inform countries that the Cuban government actively supports Russia's war against Ukraine and that up to 5,000 Cubans are fighting on the Russian side.
"After North Korea, Cuba is the largest contributor of foreign troops to Russia's aggression, with an estimated 1,000-5,000 Cubans fighting in Ukraine," read the cable dated 2 October, which was sent to dozens of US missions.

A State Department spokesperson declined to provide further details about the Cuban fighters but said that Washington is aware that they are fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.

"The Cuban regime has failed to protect its citizens from being used as pawns in the Russia-Ukraine war," the spokesperson said.

The cable also accused the Cuban government of undermining democracy in the Western Hemisphere amid growing tensions between the United States and Venezuela, Cuba's key political and economic ally.

US diplomats urged governments to oppose the non-binding UN General Assembly resolution calling on the United States to lift its decades-long trade embargo against Cuba.

The vote on the resolution is expected to take place on Wednesday 8 October

The cable stated that the resolution "incorrectly" places responsibility on the United States for Cuba's problems, which, it argued, are actually caused by Cuba's "own corruption and incompetence".

The purpose of the initiative is to demonstrate the US administration's opposition by significantly reducing the number of votes in favour of the resolution at the UN.

"'No' votes are preferred but abstentions or absent/not voting are also useful," the cable said.

The document's authors added that Washington needs "allies and like-minded partners" to promote this initiative.

The Department of State said that Cuba uses the annual UN resolution as a way to portray itself as a victim and that it does not deserve the support of America's democratic allies.

Resolutions calling for the lifting of the embargo on Cuba have been adopted by the General Assembly almost every year since 1992. They are not legally binding. Last year, 187 countries voted in favour, with only the United States and Israel voting against.