Ukraine pays off January Russian gas bill

KIEV, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has paid off its January Russian gas bill, the country's state oil and gas company Naftogaz said on Thursday.

"We have paid in full for 2.55 billion cubic metres on time," Naftogaz spokesman Valentyn Zemlyansky told a news conference.

Late payments for Russian gas have caused disputes between Kiev and Moscow which have led to supply cuts. Relations with Moscow have deteriorated under President Viktor Yushchenko, who will step down after losing a presidential election on Sunday.

Earlier this week, Fuel and Energy Minister Yuri Prodan put the January bill at 780 million U.S. dollars.

According to a 10-year contract between Naftogaz and Russian state energy giant, Gazprom, the former Soviet republic must pay for its gas imports not later than the 7th of the month following gas deliveries.