Ukrainian News Agency reported that the Naftohaz Ukrainy national oil and gas company has paid to Russia Gazprom gas monopoly for natural gas imported to Ukraine in November 2009.

Mr Valentyn Zemlianskyi the press secretary for Naftohaz Ukrainy said Naftohaz Ukrainy did not purchase foreign currency on the interbank FOREX market to pay for the November natural gas supplies.

He said that "Naftohaz Ukrainy did not come to the interbank FOREX market."

Mr Zemlianskyi did not disclose the sum the Ukrainian national company paid to Gazprom. He said Naftohaz Ukrainy has transferred money for 3.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

According to unofficial data, Naftohaz Ukrainy purchased foreign currency from the National Bank of Ukraine to settle payments with Gazprom for natural gas supplies in November.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Acting Finance Minister Mr Ihor Umanskyi has said Naftohaz Ukrainy had to pay nearly USD 700 million for natural gas supplied by Gazprom in November 2009.

(Sourced from Ukrainian News Agency)