The Russian Football Union (RFU) plans to finalise a deal with a new kit manufacturer early this year, after German company Adidas terminated its agreement due to the war in Ukraine.

Adidas had supplied Russia's national teams' kits since 2008, with the deal extended for a further five years in 2021.

However, the widely condemned Russian invasion of Ukraine — which led to the country's clubs and national teams being banned from FIFA and UEFA competitions including the men's World Cup in Qatar and Women's European Championship in England — prompted the manufacturer to suspend its partnership with the RFU and close its stores in Russia.

Despite that, the Russian men's national team used Adidas kits in three friendly matches played after the invasion of Ukraine last year against Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

RFU President Alexander Dyukov, who has retained his position on the UEFA Executive Committee, has said that he expects an agreement to be reached with a new manufacturer early this year.

We can confidently say that in 2023 we will not have an Adidas uniform,

Dyukov told Russia's official state news agency TASS.

When will there be a new partner?

In the first quarter.

Now we are talking — there will be a new technical sponsor.

RFU President Alexander Dyukov has insisted that "we can confidently say that in 2023 we will not have an Adidas uniform" 

Russian manufacturer Forward has expressed its willingness to work with the RFU.

Of course, we are ready to cooperate with the RFU and meet their needs as soon as possible with the help of our production facilities located in Tver,

its chief executive Vitaly Tsygankov told TASS.

Zaport, which has provided uniforms for Russian athletes at the Olympic Games, has also told TASS that it is "ready to hold talks in the near future.

The RFU had considered transferring its affiliation to the Asian Football Confederation last month, but that proposal was shelved, with the national governing body instead seeking to create a working group with UEFA to discuss a return to its competitions.

Russia have already been excluded from the qualifying process for the men's Euro 2024.