Russia, Ukraine agree on late gas payment in Jan

MOSCOW Dec 22 (Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine agreed on Tuesday to postpone the date by which Kiev must pay for December gas supplies due to the New Year holidays, Russian state-run gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM) said in a statement.

"Taking into account the holidays, an agreement was reached to postpone the payment date for December supplies from Jan. 7 to Jan. 11, 2010," Gazprom said in the statement.

Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller met on Tuesday with the head of Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz, Oleh Dubyna. (Reporting by Robin Paxton)