Former Cuban President Fidel Castro has weighed in on the bombers' controversy between Russia and the United States. 

He said Havana owed no apologies to Washington over reports that Russia might start flying long-range bombers to Cuba. 

Earlier this week a US General, responding to a report in a Russian newspaper, warned Moscow against basing nuclear-capable bombers in Cuba. 

Commenting on the matter, Mr. Castro wrote that what is needed are "nerves of steel in times of genocide".

He said the United Nations knows that Cuba has them. 

His comment appeared to be a reference to previous Cold War era confrontations between the two countries. 

On Wednesday, the Cuban authorities said they had no knowledge of the Russian plans, and that Havana would prefer to normalise relations with Washington.