US President Barack Obama could pay his first visit to Russia in early July, the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant reported Wednesday, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.

The visit would include more in-depth talks than will be possible when Obama meets Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for the first time next month, the newspaper said, citing a source close to the Russian foreign ministry.

Obama and Medvedev are due to meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in London in early April.

The most likely dates for Obama''s visit to Russia are just ahead of the G8 summit to be held in Italy from July 8 to 10, Kommersant said.

Citing sources in Washington, the newspaper said that former US secretary of state James Baker would arrive in Moscow this week to help lay the groundwork for Obama''s visit.

Also this week, a group of prominent US foreign policy veterans including former secretary of state Henry Kissinger will visit Moscow for a series of meetings with Russian officials, including Medvedev, Kommersant said.