Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, who will be visiting Moscow on Thursday to discuss energy and trade ties, according to Kremlin.
'Comprehensive development of bilateral cooperation including in trade, investment and the energy sector will be the upcoming meeting’s main focus,' said a release made by the Russian president's office.
Russian economy, half of it dependent on oil and gas revenues, is having hard times due to oil prices that fell sharply since last June.
The countries under Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which supply around 40 percent of total crude in the world, refuse to reduce production to push prices up.
OPEC members, mainly Saudi Arabia, claim the production in oil supply from non-OPEC countries, including Russia, is the key element in plunging oil prices.
By Furkan Naci Top
Anadolu Agency
furkan.top@aa.com.tr