KIEV, February 1 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's national energy company Naftogaz said Wednesday it was ready to formalize the establishment of a joint venture with Russia to supply natural gas to Ukrainian consumers.

Naftogaz said the deal had initially been delayed by the need to sign a package of documents related to underground storage facilities, and to settle a number of other issues.

The deal is to be signed with RosUkrEnergo, a Swiss-based company that transports Central Asian natural gas to Ukraine via Russia, which is half owned by Gazprom subsidiary Gazprombank. The other half is held by Austrian bank Raiffeisen.

Naftogaz and Russian energy giant Gazprom were originally to establish the venture by February 1, according to the agreement they signed January 4, 2005.

The agreement ended the gas price row between the two countries, which culminated in Russia briefly cutting off gas supplies to its former Soviet neighbor.