During the meeting, the Russian president told the Antillean head of state that it is symbolic that the celebration of Victory Day coincides with the 65th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the then Soviet Union and Cuba, which took place on May 8, 1960.

In his turn, Díaz-Canel said he was very happy and grateful to have been invited to Russia for this historical event.

In that sense, he ratified the importance of the two dates ‘that unite us in our historic relations’, he said.

The first of them, the most transcendental, is the victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), and secondly, there is the 65th anniversary of the reestablishment of relations between our nations’, said the dignitary of this Caribbean country.

Diaz-Canel considered very significant the fact of being present at the commemorations, because in his opinion the current times demand to consider actions for the rescue of the historical memory, due to the increase of 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.

In his talks with Putin, the president of the Caribbean island also said that the Russian society has ‘the merit of having saved humanity’ during World War II and added that nowadays ‘they try to deny it and rewrite history’.

He also warned about the presence of new manifestations of fascism in the world and expressed the need to make an effort to tell the true history.

Likewise, he affirmed that the links between Havana and Moscow still remain in spite of the challenges they have had to face over time.

We share challenges, emotions, programs, joint projects and we have reached this day: we are celebrating the 65th anniversary of this relationship.

History has shown that only unity based on cooperation, solidarity and friendship will allow us to face current and future challenges,’ Diaz-Canel concluded.

After the initial exchange, both presidents and representatives of the two countries held a round of negotiations where they reviewed the development of the current bilateral agreements and the medium and long term plans for political, economic and commercial cooperation.

The Cuban president, together with about twenty heads of state and government, will attend the parade for the eight decades of the victory over fascism and the end of World War II, which is traditionally held in Moscow’s Red Square on May 9.

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