Putin congratulates Cuba's new president on his election: Kremlin

Newly elected Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel is seen during the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, April 19, 2018. Desmond Boylan/Pool via Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's President Vladimir Putin, spoke with Cuba's new President Miguel Diaz-Canel and ex-president Raul Castro over the phone on Friday, the Kremlin said on its website. Putin congratulated Diaz-Canel on his election and his birthday and said Russia was ready to help the Cuban leadership modernize its economy, according to the Kremlin. (Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Andrew Heavens)