Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting his Cuban counterpart Miguel Díaz-Canel, who arrived in Russia to attend events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).

During the meeting, the Russian leader told his counterpart that it was «symbolic» that the celebration of Victory Day coincided with the 65th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the then Soviet Union and Cuba, which took place on 8 May 1960.

For his part, Díaz-Canel said he was very happy and grateful to have been invited to Russia for this historic event. He also reaffirmed the importance of the two important dates for both nations «that unite us in our historic relations».

«The first of these, the most transcendental, is the victory in the Great Patriotic War, and secondly, there is the 65th anniversary of the establishment of relations between our nations,» he said.

The Cuban leader said it was «very significant» to be present at the commemorations because «everything we propose in the rescue of historical memory in these times, when there are increasing attempts to try to diminish the leading and heroic role of the Soviet Union, the Red Army and the Russian people, in relation to the victory over fascism».

As an obligatory stop along the way, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel arrived today at the monument erected in honour of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro (1926-2016), in the Russian capital.

In a clear demonstration of a son extolling the legacy of a father, the head of state, together with the delegation accompanying him on an official visit to the Eurasian giant to take part in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, placed a wreath at the statue that perpetuates the Commander-in-Chief in the Moscow district of Sokol.

The sculpture of Fidel, inaugurated by the West Indian president and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on 22 November 2022, represents a tribute from the Russian people to the man they consider a paradigm for Latin America and the world.

In the words of the Slavic country’s leader, the eternal Caguairán of the Caribbean nation «was a man who thought of the people every second, and not just Cubans: he thought of all Latin America, he thought of all the people of the planet, of the Earth,» he said.

Putin then exalted that Fidel’s whole conscience was imbued with a concern for the common good and justice. He was a unique personality. «This is the kind of person that Latin America gives us.

For his part, Díaz-Canel said at the unveiling of the sculpture that Fidel understood very well «the bonds of fraternity that have united both nations», as well as «admired the greatness of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), their humanism and capacity for sacrifice to save humanity from fascism».

In the square that has borne his name since 2017, a three-metre-high bronze monument was erected, depicting the bearded young man in military uniform with his traditional beret, standing on a stone block with the map of Cuba.

According to the architect and sculptor of the work, Andrey Beliy and Alexey Chebanenko, respectively, the sculptural ensemble represents the heroic path of a man who defended the rights of the people in his country.

Prior to this stop, the dignitary of the largest of the Antilles took part in the ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Russia on 8 May 1960.

At the celebration, he confirmed that the friendship between Havana and Moscow has stood the test of time and the most complex and diverse international circumstances.

«History has taught us that in the midst of the challenges we face, cooperation and solidarity are fundamental bulwarks of our relationship. Today we are not lacking in challenges or motivations, to take up again together the path of freedom in defence of peace, human development and the future of our peoples,» he said.

Also on Wednesday morning, the Secretary of the Communist Party of Russia, Guennadi Ziuganov, decorated the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba with the medal commemorating the 80th anniversary of the great victory.

Díaz-Canel, along with some twenty heads of state and government, will attend the parade marking eight decades since the victory over fascism and the end of World War II on 9 May, which is traditionally held in Moscow’s Red Square.

He did not want statues or monuments, but the Russian people decided that there should be a place in Moscow to pay tribute to the Cuban leader who brought relations with this great country to the highest level. Here his followers have returned to bear witness to the continuity of his thinking.