KIEV, Feb. 25 – The National Bank of Ukraine agreed to sell foreign exchange reserves to Naftogaz Ukrayiny to make sure the national energy company pays Russia’s Gazprom for natural gas supplies in February, a top official said Wednesday.

Naftogaz is supposed to pay about $400 million to Gazprom before March 7 for gas supplies in February, according to an agreement signed between Naftogaz and Gazprom on January 19.

The assurances from the NBU ease concerns that Naftogaz may fail to make the payment, which would again escalate the dispute between Naftogaz and Gazprom.