Relationship dossier
Cuba
Ukraine
Relationship assessment
Humanitarian cooperation and Ukraine’s opposition to the U.S. embargo contrast with Cuba’s position on Russia’s war
Cuba toward Ukraine
+5Cuba’s government ran a medical program that treated children from Ukraine affected by the Chernobyl disaster. In 2022, Cuba abstained on UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its attempted annexations, rather than supporting Ukraine’s position.
Ukraine toward Cuba
+10Ukraine has voted in favor of UN General Assembly resolutions calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba, a recurring expression of opposition to a major policy affecting Cuba.
Overall relationship
+5The relationship includes a concrete humanitarian program benefiting Ukrainian children and Ukraine’s recurring opposition to the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Cuba’s abstentions on UN resolutions concerning Russia’s war against Ukraine mark a major foreign-policy difference. The known bilateral cooperation is meaningful but limited in scope.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Cuba’s government provided medical care to children from Ukraine affected by the Chernobyl disaster, while its later position on Russia’s war has been less supportive of Ukraine: Cuba abstained on UN General Assembly resolutions condemning the invasion and Russia’s attempted annexations. Ukraine has supported UN resolutions calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba. These actions indicate some cooperation alongside a significant foreign-policy difference.
Areas of tension
- Cuba’s abstentions on UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion and attempted annexations conflict with Ukraine’s position.
Key developments
Cuba’s government began a medical program treating children from Ukraine and other affected areas after the Chernobyl disaster.
Cuba abstained on a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Cuba abstained on a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s attempted annexation of Ukrainian territory.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of current bilateral cooperation beyond the historical medical program is unclear.
- The implementation and present scope of bilateral agreements are unclear.