Around the World: Ukraine

Russia will be paid for gas

Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz is acquiring the funds needed for January's Russian gas imports and will pay the bill on time, acting finance minister Ihor Umansky said yesterday.

Ukraine must pay the bill, estimated at about $700 million, by Feb 7 - also the date of a decisive round of voting for a new president. Late payments have caused rows between Moscow and Kiev that have led to gas supply cuts to Europe.