The Cuban Head of State presented Putin with a letter of congratulations from the leader of the Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, following his re-election as President of the Russian Federation.

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, was received by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace, a meeting that ratified the solid historical relations and continuity that have characterised both nations.

The Cuban Head of State presented the Russian leader with a letter of congratulations from the leader of the Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, following his re-election as President of the Russian Federation, as well as conveying the recognition of the Cuban people, Party and Government.

The meeting was the culmination of his intense work schedule in Moscow, where he arrived on 7 May on a working visit to take part in the activities marking the 79th anniversary of Victory Day of the Great Patriotic War, and to take part – for the first time in person – in the Supreme Council of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Regarding the latter, the Cuban leader described it as «an experience for learning and for appreciating all its potential, a space for consultation between a group of nations that are friends of Cuba, with which we have enormous possibilities for exchange, complementing each other and being able to move forward».

He considered it a privilege to be here on such a significant date as Victory Day, which is important not only for the Russian people, but for all humanity.

In the cordial exchange, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that «we always support the Cuban people and we are against US attempts to restrict Cuba’s development and to harm it economically through sanctions.

«The Cuban people have been fighting for decades and are strong,» Putin said. «Once again I am glad to see you, welcome.

Earlier, the Cuban President had participated, together with Putin, in the military parade for the 79th anniversary of the Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War, held in the capital’s Red Square. The heads of state then took part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.