KIEV, Jan. 25 - Russia and Ukraine postponed creation of a joint venture aimed at distributing natural gas to industrial consumers in Ukraine, Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said Wednesday.

The joint venture is to be created as part of the deal that has been signed on Jan. 4 to end a natural gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia. The dispute led to disruptions of gas supplies to Europe on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2.