Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday lamented the loss of “great statesman” Fidel Castro, who died the night before at age 90. In a letter sent to Raul Castro, Putin said Cuba had “served as an inspiring example for many countries and peoples” while under Castro’s communist rule. “Fidel Castro was a sincere and reliable friend of Russia. He made an enormous contribution to the formation and development of Russian-Cuban relations, close strategic cooperation in all fields,” Putin said, according to the Kremlin’s website.
