India is likely to sign a bilateral agreement with France [Images] for supply of nuclear fuel during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's [Images] visit to that country, External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday.

A similar deal was also likely to be signed with Russia [Images] during its President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to India scheduled later this year, Mukherjee told a convention on 'Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation and its future impact' held in Kolkata.

PM Manmohan Singh leaves for the US

Expressing hope that the United States Congress would ratify the 123 agreement by September 25, the minister said that although the ratification was pending, it would not prevent India from having bilateral agreement with other countries for supply of nuclear fuel.

"India specific safety agreement is just a passport to enter into nuclear trade with any country. We now need a visa," he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today left for his ten-day tour of France and US.

India's ever-shifting nuclear goalpost