On May 8, Russia and Cuba will mark 50 years...

Even before Moscow and Havana officially re-established diplomatic relations, Cuba and the Soviet Union had developed a surprisingly close bond, which could be characterized as “love at first sight.”

The Soviet people, brought up in the spirit of internationalism, had a sincere desire to support the distant Caribbean nation that had overthrown its dictatorial regime and freed itself from U.S. dominance only to face a U.S. embargo and military threats. What is most significant is that the upsurge of sympathy for the Cuban people took place at the purely human level. Our people saw in the Cubans a courageous people challenging a powerful neighbor that had called the shots in their country for decades. They saw a people who are open, good-natured and filled with zest for life, a people that bears hardship with dignity and celebrate every festive occasion to the fullest. In the months following the revolution, Cuba seemed less an island than an endless sea of triumphant

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