MOSCOW, April 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia energy giant Gazprom confirmed on Tuesday that Ukraine's national gas company Naftogaz had paid in full for gas delivered to the ex-Soviet republic in March.

"Naftogaz of Ukraine has paid in full for March gas deliveries," Gazprom said in a statement.

In line with agreements reached earlier in Moscow, Ukraine must pay for each month's gas supplies by the 7th day of the following month. If payment is not made on time, then Gazprom can insist on a switch to advance payments for gas deliveries.

Naftogaz made timely payments for gas delivered to the ex-Soviet republic in January and February.

Valentyn Zemlyanskiy, a spokesman for Naftogaz, earlier said that the company had made full payments for gas consumed in March and that Naftogaz and Gazprom had signed a technical agreement on gas transits.

Gazprom suspended gas deliveries to Ukraine on January 1 over non-payment, and the sides' failure to reach a new gas deal. A week later, Gazprom accused Ukraine of stealing gas intended for EU consumers and cut off gas deliveries to the European Union via the country, prompting two weeks of gas shortfalls across much of Eastern Europe.

The standoff was resolved after negotiations between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko resulted in the signing of a new gas agreement on January 19.