Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday when meeting here with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel that both countries are consolidating ties of brotherhood in the face of Western economic sanctions.

Moscow.- During the meeting, held in the framework of the Cuban president’s official visit to Russia, the Russian leader expressed gratitude for the presence of Cuban authorities and confirmed that this is another step to strengthen the common agenda.

He described Diaz-Canel’s visit to Moscow as intense and said that he would be received by President Vladimir Putin, authorities of the Russian Parliament, and the United Russia party.

We live in a complex world, under heavy sanctions, and Cuba is a country with a lot of experience in these matters, Medvedev said.

In this regard, he added that the mechanisms of economic asphyxiation imposed on Havana and Moscow cannot slow down trade and financial cooperation between both nations.

Medvedev added that they will continue their good contact, and enrich the economic, educational, and other ties between their countries. They will develop cooperation between the Communist Party of Cuba and the United Russia party.

For his part, the Cuban head of State said that he was happy to be in Russia and thanked the former Russian president for his welcome.

Diaz-Canel also extended greetings from the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro, who according to Díaz-Canel, has fond memories of his meetings with Medvedev.

The president described this as a timely moment to pay a visit to Russia, given the complexities both countries are facing due to the sanctions, also in response to Putin’s invitation to inaugurate the monument to the memory of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.

In the face of current challenges, it is always good to exchange ideas and seek ways to strengthen economic relations and expand political dialogue, Díaz-Canel stressed.

CUBAN PRESIDENT TALKS WITH RUSSIAN COMMUNISTS

On Monday, Miguel Díaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, held talks in Moscow with Gennady Andreyevich, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation.

In the context of the working agenda of his official visit to this nation, President Diaz-Canel thanked the Russian Communists for their support to the Caribbean island in the fight against the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States.

The Cuban head of State also conveyed to Andreyevich a fraternal greeting from Army General Raúl Castro, in which he acknowledged the support of the Russian party organization to the Cuban people.

He took the opportunity to invite the Russian communist leader to the event on world equilibrium based on the conception of Cuban National Hero José Martí and the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, to begin in Havana in January 2023.

Andreyevich, on behalf of his followers, expressed his joy to receive and exchange ideas with the Cuban party leader.

We have visited many countries in the Latin American region where we have excellent working relations, but the Russian Communist Party has an identification and commitment with Cuba, he said.

CUBAN PRESIDENT DÍAZ-CANEL PAYS TRIBUTE TO RUSSIAN WAR HEROES

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Monday visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier next to the Kremlin walls to pay tribute to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).

The Cuban head of State laid a wreath in honor of those who fell in the fight against Nazi Germany.

Díaz-Canel's tribute was the second event on the third day of his official visit to Russia.

CUBAN PRESIDENT DÍAZ-CANEL VISITS RUSSIA TODAY TV STATION

The head of State toured the TV station's facilities and exchanged impressions with directors and journalists as part of his agenda during his official visit to the Russian Federation.

During the visit, he gave an interview to anchor Aliana Nieves in which he described the level of relations between Russia and Cuba as excellent.

The president also spoke of the steps taken by both States to deepen economic relations and trade on the basis that they are mutually beneficial to both peoples.

Díaz-Canel also denounced that Cuba and Russia are going through complex situations, as they are sanctioned nations pressured at the international level by imperialism and by a group of capitalist powers.

He described visiting the studios as a unique opportunity and highlighted the fundamental role of the channel in the Cuban media landscape and its influence on the young population.

The president stressed that during his stay in the studios he was able to appreciate the dimension of the channel, and the work processes, and considered that there is great potential to work together and develop collaboration.

Previously, Díaz-Canel had met with the leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Gennadi Zyuganov, and laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier next to the Kremlin walls.

The Cuban president arrived in Russia on November 19 and will stay here on November 22 as part of a tour that began in Algeria and will also include Türkiye and China, in response to invitations from the leaders of those countries to strengthen bilateral ties. (PL)