The Kremlin has added its voice to tributes still pouring in for Fidel Castro.

Relations between Moscow and Havana date back to the 1950s, and while they were tested during the collapse of the Soviet Union, they are still flourishing today.

CCTV’s Julia Lyubova spoke with Cubans living in Russia for their take.
Follow Julia Lyubova on Twitter @julialyubova

Raul Castro is expected to step down as the Cuban President in 2018 and many believe this will bring big changes to the country. But locals believe that even after Raul leaves office, Cuba will continue leaning more towards Russia than the United States.

This could be especially true as the Kremlin called Fidel Castro ‘a true friend of Russia’, while President-elect Donald Trump referred to him as ‘a brutal dictator.’ Vladimir Putin may be skipping Fidel Castro’s funeral but Moscow made it clear it is business as usual with Havana.

Numerous Russians came to the Cuban Embassy in Moscow to lay flowers and tie ribbons to show their condolences after hearing the news of Fidel Castro’s death.

For many he was an iconic leader and a long-term ally. Many Cubans living in Russia do not expect this special relationship between Russia and Cuba to change.