During his stay, which will conclude on Thursday, the Cuban head of State is having a busy agenda that will include a meeting with President Vladimir Putin to analyze the bilateral ties in all fields.

Díaz-Canel will participate in the Supreme Council of the Eurasian Economic Union, an important integration bloc in which Cuba holds the status of observer State.

In response to an invitation extended by his Russian counterpart, the Cuban president will attend the military parade and other commemorative events on May 9 on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

On May 8t, 1960, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and Cuba made the restoration of diplomatic relations official. They had been severed in 1952 by dictator Fulgencio Batista, due to his political dependence on the United States.

The victory of the Cuban Revolution in 1959 made it possible to reestablish ties with the USSR on the basis of reciprocal friendliness between both peoples, the shared aspiration for justice and equal rights and the will to continue along a sovereign path of development.

The ties were consolidated and are based on mutual respect, collaboration, the defense of the nations’ right to self-determination and the need for multilateralism in international relations.

Cuba and Russia defend compliance with the standards of international law enshrined in the United Nations Charter, as well as respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of the States, and strengthen their strategic partnership through active political dialogue at the highest level and agreement on the main issues on the international agenda.

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