Rice to visit Russia to prepare for Bush's trip

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Moscow next week for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials in preparation for US President George W. Bush's trip to Russia next month.

"Secretary Rice will visit Moscow April 19-20. The Secretary will meet with President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and other Russian officials," the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

"The focus of the Moscow visit will be on preparing for President Bush's visit to Russia during the May 9 observances commemorating the end of World War II," the statement said.

After the Moscow visit, Rice will travel to Lithuania for a regular meeting of NATO foreign ministers, as well as the NATO- Russia Council and the NATO-Ukraine Commission, the statement said.

Rice will also meet Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis to discuss efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the statement added.