Presidents Vladimir and Putin Miguel Díaz-Canel spoke out against Western sanctions during their meeting in Moscow.
Putin praised the friendship that Moscow has maintained for decades with Cuba and said that both countries should intensify their cooperation. “We have always opposed various types of restrictions, embargoes, blockades,” he said.
For his part, Díaz-Canel said that his visit to Moscow had a “deep” meaning. “First of all, it occurs because both countries, Russia and Cuba, are subjected to continuing unfair and arbitrary sanctions, and have a common enemy, the US empire that manipulates much of the world,” he said.
Cuba has been under US sanctions for more than six decades, while Russia is under an unprecedented set of Western sanctions after Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24.
“Once again, I want to reiterate that Russia can always count on Cuba and all our will, our commitment as admirers of Russian history, of Russian culture, as admirers that we are also of its leadership,” Díaz-Canel said.
Both leaders inaugurated a Fidel Castro monument in a square located in the north of the Russian capital that bears his name.
The square was named Fidel Castro in 2017, one year after the death of the Cuban leader on November 25, 2016.
The bronze monument is three meters high and represents Fidel Castro in his traditional military uniform and beret. On the stone pedestal on which the statue of Russian sculptor Alexei Chebanenko was placed, you can read the word CUBA.
The initiative to erect it is due to the Russian Military-Historical Society, which allocated 20 million rubles, about 333,000 dollars.
Díaz-Canel arrived last Saturday in Moscow on an official visit. His entourage includes the foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez; the Minister of Economy, Alejandro Gil, and the head of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, among other officials.
