Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint news conference following their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia November 2, 2018. (Photo: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov)

The deal was first announced in November after Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban President of the Councils of States and Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel in Moscow. Russia’s Kommersant newspaper had previously reported Moscow planned to grant Cuba a loan to buy Russian hardware such as tanks, armored vehicles and possibly helicopters.