KIEV, April 6 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny late Tuesday made the payment to Russia’s gas giant Gazprom for natural gas imports in March, a company official said.

The official refused to disclose how much Naftogaz wired to Gazprom, but Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has earlier said Ukraine had to pay about $700 million before April 7.

Naftogaz needs to make monthly payments to Gazprom within the first week of each next month to comply with a natural gas agreement both signed in January.