Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz arrived in the Russian capital this afternoon, May 5, to participate in activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of fascism’s defeat during WWII, on the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.

Coming from Algeria where he completed a three-day official visit, Raúl was received at Vnukovo II Airport by deputy foreign minister Serguei Ryabkov and Tatiana Anódina, president of the State Aviation Committee.

The Cuban delegation additionally includes Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, a vice president of the Council of Ministers; Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, minister of Foreign Relations; Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Army Corps General Leopoldo Cintra Frias; and Emilio Lozada García, Cuba’s ambassador in Russia.

The Cuban President will meet with Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev tomorrow, May 6, and is scheduled to see President Putin the following day. According to plans, Raúl will also visit Patriarch Kiril, the Russian Orthodox Church’s highest authority.

This is Raúl’s third trip to Russia as President of Cuba, while his first trip to the former Soviet Union took place in July of 1960.

(Leticia Martínez, Granma)