Cuba and St. Petersburg: The most vivid example of friendship between two peoples

ST PETERSBURG, Russian Federation-If anything distinguishes the meeting between Russians and Cubans is the closeness, the joy, the feeling that "somewhere we have coincided"; a common history, marked by political and economic events; but also, and above all, by family and personal affections, generational memories that can range from a song, a cartoon, a movie, a household appliance, to a trip to the cosmos. A common history that is respected and honored in a two-way street: from the largest Island in the Caribbean to the largest country in the world.

Precisely because of that mutual admiration, President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez began his official agenda at the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery, where the memory of 490,000 heroes and martyrs of the inhuman siege of Leningrad is cared for and honored, the city that for more than 900 days endured the hellish pains of the Nazi siege, namely hunger, cold, daily bombardments, death on all sides, and emerged victorious by a resistance that still today amazes and has become a distinctive character of the Russian soul.

The president walked the 480-meter main avenue leading to the monument to the Homeland, where the anthems of both nations were heard and each member of the Cuban delegation placed red carnations, in even numbers as tradition dictates in these lands, on the slabs of dark marble.

President Diaz-Canel, with those strong feelings that always provoke the examples of heroism, wrote in the visitors' book that he was again at this Memorial in the framework of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War, "to pay tribute to the victims of the bombing and famine, and to the heroic soldiers who died defending this city.

"The heroic resistance of the inhabitants of Leningrad, in the face of siege, hunger and cold, confronting the Nazi war machine, is admired and respected by the peoples of the world," he said.

Díaz-Canel recalled here the young Cubans who participated as combatants in the Great Patriotic War: the Vivó brothers, who fought in Leningrad, and Enrique Vilar, who fought in Poland.

"Today, when there are frequent attempts to rewrite history and minimize the heroism of the USSR and the Red Army, and their role in the victory, we want to show here that the Cuban people do know the true history and the contribution to humanity of the Soviet Union and the Red Army in achieving victory at a high human and material cost," he said.

That is the historical truth, he stressed, "history shows that only united, through cooperation, solidarity and friendship, will we be able to face the challenges of today and the future," the president said in that sacred place in Russia. There are 186 mass graves there that speak of the horror of fascism and the threat that today looms over all humanity.

A VISIT THAT STRENGTHENS CONVICTIONS AND PROMOTES NEW COMMITMENTS

The Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov received the Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, whom he had seen recently, in November 2024, during his trip to the Caribbean Island, with a hug and at the door of his house. Then, the Head of State welcomed him at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, and from there the invitation to this visit was born.

At the gate of the Smolny Palace, a historic building that was chosen by Lenin as the Bolshevik headquarters during the October Revolution, the governor of St. Petersburg received Díaz-Canel, who after the embrace placed flowers on the statue that hoNors the memory of the leader of the first socialist state in the world.

Then came the meeting, which in diplomatic language is called Official Conversations, and in practice it turned out to be a very close dialogue. Beglov said that it was an honor to receive the president and his entourage, we are proud that their first destination in Russia is our city, he declared. He then described the three Cubans who died in the Great Patriotic War as "our heroes".

The governor considered that St. Petersburg plays an important role in the relations between Cuba and Russia, there is trust and mutual respect.

He spoke of the enormous potential to continue the path of cooperation, and mentioned important lines such as pharmaceuticals, machinery, equipment, and the supply of raw materials. He referred to Cuban medicine as one of the most progressive in the world, and to his government's willingness to share experiences in specialties such as cardiology and pediatrics, among others.

Beglov was emphatic about cooperation in the area of secondary and higher education, in which the potentialities are enormous. We are ready to receive students of technical specialties in our schools, he said, referring to a project that is about to be implemented this year.

The relations between Cuba and St. Petersburg are an example of friendship and fulfillment of projects, he considered, and then wished peace and prosperity for the Cuban people.

Taking the floor, president Díaz-Canel expressed his gratitude for the sensitivity with which Russia attends to Cuba's problems; and particularly regarding the ties with the former Leningrad, he said that an important work portfolio has been built in several areas of the economic and cultural life of both peoples.

The President referred to the proposal to collaborate in the health sector, especially in rehabilitation issues; we have the capacity to provide these services, he said. Likewise, he valued as very positive the education programs, related to hosting Cuban students in St. Petersburg, and providing training to high school teachers; as well as increasing cultural exchanges.

Díaz-Canel thanked Russia for its permanent support in the fight against U.S. blockade against the Island and ratified the condemnation of the coercive measures applied by the West to punish Russia.

The President described the situation faced by the country, with shortages of food, medicines, energy problems, which affect the economic and social life of the nation. He assured that the Cuban people will not surrender, as Leningrad did not, and "we will not allow ourselves to be humiliated".

Finally, he considered that this visit strengthens convictions and promotes new commitments for both parties.

Monday's morning session concluded at the Smolny Palace with the inauguration of the exhibition Oh, Havana. Transit, with works by Russian artists on life in Cuba, and then the President visited the offices where Lenin and Putin, leaders of this great nation that these days welcomes Cuba, and other brotherly countries of the world, for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the victory against fascism, worked, each in their time and with their responsibilities.

As the Head of State said in his account on the social network x: "Cuba will be in the Red Square this May 9. It is an honor".