Cuba strongly condemns NATO’s attempts to approach the borders of the Russian Federation and the unilateral sanctions introduced by the US against Russia, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel told Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in the run-up to the Russian-Cuban talks in an expanded format.

Axar.az reports citing TASS.

"We strongly condemn NATO’s attempts to surround and approach the borders of the Russian Federation. We strongly condemn the unilateral sanctions introduced against Russia by the USA. And we highly value the role Russia plays in achieving balance in the modern world, as well as achieving peace on the planet," he said.

Diaz-Canel noted that Medvedev’s visit "will become a milestone in the historic relationship between Russia and Cuba, helping to continue the discussion of topics that began during the previous visits of Medvedev and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to Cuba." The Cuban leader noted that in 2020, Russia and Cuba would celebrate the 20th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. He added that Cuba plans to hold various events in honor of the anniversary. "Our history is full of moments from personal lives of every Cuban that are in some way related to this story," he said. Diaz-Canel asked Medvedev to give his regards to the Russian president.

The Cuban leader reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to developing bilateral relations in the sphere of economy and finance. "We thank Russia for its support in the fight against the blockade. Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister, for visiting Cuba during this difficult time. The government and the people of Cuba see this as a sign of support and solidarity," Diaz-Canel concluded.