KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's state energy firm Naftogaz said on Tuesday it no longer had debts for Russian gas, having paid $1.52 billion (1.05 billion pounds) to avoid a New Year cutoff of supplies.
"We have confirmation from banks that $1.522 billion is in the accounts of (gas supply intermediary) RosUkrEnergo," a spokesman told Reuters. "The payment has been made. Our debt has been paid off," he said.
Russia's gas export monopoly Gazprom has previously said Naftogaz owed more than $2 billion for gas this year. It threatened to cut off supplies, potentially affecting the smooth transit of gas to Europe.
(Editing by Tim Pearce)
