Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 8 during a visit to Moscow.
The visit will be closely watched because of the Greek leader's criticism of EU sanctions against Russia and tension over his country's financial problems.
It comes at a time when Greek coffers are running low dry as Athens negotiates with international creditors for the release of funds under its current bailout package.
In an interview with Russian state news agency TASS ahead of the visit, Tsipras described Western sanctions over Moscow's interference in Ukraine as a "road to nowhere."
He said that EU-member Greece could be "a bridge between the West and Russia," citing the countries' "common roots, common struggle, common faith, and also culture."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the issue of Greece's debt may be raised at talks between Tsipras and Putin.
The Russian daily Kommersant on April 7 cquoted a Russian government source as saying Moscow may offer Greece a discount on gas deliveries and new loans.
