Trader says gas debt talks with Ukraine fail

MOSCOW, Jan 25 (Reuters) - A gas trader, half-controlled by Russia's gas export monoploy Gazprom (GAZP.MM), on Friday said it had failed to reach a deal with Ukraine over a $598 million Ukrainian debt for gas supplies from Russia and Central Asia.

Analysts and market observers closely follow all pricing and debt disputes between the two countries, as Ukraine accounts for 80 percent of Russia's gas transit to Europe.

The trader, called RosUkrEnergo, blamed Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz for the failure to reach agreement.

Naftogaz was not immediately available for comment. (reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov)