"Some significant issues remain outstanding and will be discussed further next week in Washington when a Russian delegation attends the spring meetings of the IMF's Interim Committee," the Fund said in a short statement.

It did not say what issues were blocking a deal but the IMF has long been critical of Russia's poor tax collection.

The Russian delegation, due to leave for Washington on Sunday, will include First Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Maslyukov, Central Bank Chairman Viktor Gerashchenko, Finance Minister Mikhail Zadornov and Economy Minister Andrei Shapovalyants. The IMF statement said the Fund and the Russian officials had made some progress during the latest round of talks in Moscow which ended on Friday.