Putin meets Castros on trip to assert Russian influence
Russian President Vladimir Putin met former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and current President Raul Castro on Friday to begin a six-day tour of Latin America in which Russia is seeking to reassert its influence on the communist-ruled island.
The Russian president's journey to the backyard of the United States comes as he is under pressure from the West to help restrain pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and urge Ukraine rebels to find a negotiated solution.
Mr Putin will also visit Argentina and Brazil for bilateral talks, and while in Brazil he will participate in a summit of the so-called Brics nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa on Tuesday and Wednesday.