Ukraine
has paid its $1.5 billion debt for Russian gas delivered in November and
December, state gas company Naftogaz told AFP Tuesday, trying to defuse a New
Year showdown with gas giant OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS).
"The money is on the accounts of RosUkrEnergo," an intermediary
company in which Gazprom has a 50% stake, Naftogaz's spokesman Valentin
Zemliansky told AFP. "We have transferred $1.522 billion," he added.