KIEV, Feb. 20 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny said Wednesday it had paid off a second installment of nearly $180 million of payment arrears for gas imports, which Russia's Gazprom puts in total at $1.5 billion.

Gazprom had threatened to cut some supplies to Ukraine over the debts, but last week Moscow and Kiev clinched an agreement to settle payment of arrears and, over time, to do away with intermediaries.

This is the second payment to UkrGaz-Energo, with $106 million paid on Feb. 14, Naftogaz said in the statement.