Kremlin says welcomes steps to normalise U.S.-Cuba ties

MOSCOW, July 2. /TASS/. The Kremlin welcomes recent efforts by the United States and Cuba to re-establish diplomatic relations, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. President Vladimir Putin "has already made comments [in this regard]", Peskov told journalists, adding that the Russian leader "has given quite a positive assessment of the process of normalising ties between the U.S. and Cuba". The issue of Russia’s relations with Latin America was raised during Putin’s meeting with top executives of the world's leading news agencies in St. Petersburg in late June. Spanish news agency Efe reported that the Russian president had expressed support for the diplomatic thaw between Havana and Washington, noting that the U.S.’ steps to lift its longstanding trade embargo against Cuba could positively influence both the island and the rest of the world. Putin vowed that Moscow would seek to expand cooperation with Latin American countries, the agency said. Read more