Russian FM Lavrov visits Cuba, calls for end to US trade embargo

Russian warship Viktor Leonov enters the bay in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. The Russian warship, one of the fleet's Vishnya-class ships generally used for intelligence gathering, was docked in the harbor Tuesday, coinciding with a visit to Cuba by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan) (The Associated Press)

HAVANA – Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov has launched a tour of Latin America with a stop in Cuba, where he has called for an end to the U.S. embargo against the island nation.

The official website Cubadebate says Lavrov discussed bilateral cooperation on Tuesday with Ricardo Cabrisas, vice president of the Council of Ministers. He was to meet later with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Cubadebate quotes Lavrov as saying that Russia will work with Cuba to help end the U.S. trade sanctions. He also says that Russian companies are interested in investing in the Caribbean country's development.

Lavrov will later travel on to Colombia, Nicaragua and Guatemala.