According to Russian officials, President Vladimir Putin will travel to Libya Wednesday at the invitation of Lybian leader Moammar Gadhafi, Voice of America reports. Their talks are expected to focus on gas exploration deals with Gazprom, Russia’s natural gas company. Putin’s visit comes as Russia’s neighbor Ukraine is also seeking links with Lybia, part of efforts in order to develop an energy policy independent of Moscow.

Putin’s visit will be one of his last foreign travels before he steps down from office next month, when his protégé, Dmitry Medvedev, will be sworn is as president. Vladimir Putin will serve as Prime Minister.

Russia’s biggest party, The United Russia, said on Monday it would ask President Putin to become its chairman. “We are now talking about a concrete post which we intend to offer to Vladimir Putin, the post of chairman of the party,” United Russia chief Boris Gryzlov told reporters, quoted by the International Herald Tribune.

Analysts say if Putin accepts the invitation, it would significantly secure his power and indicate that he will use his position to maintain his influence. Declining the offer might suggest that Putin is willing to take a back seat from now on.

The president can discharge the premier but he has to obtain the parliament’s support in order to appoint a new prime minister. The United Russia controls the parliament, as the party has the two-thirds majority in parliament required to amend the constitution.

President Vladimir Putin, 55, did not say if he would accept the invitation to take a party post. He is expected to attend the United Russia conference on Tuesday.