Russia's Gazprom says gets first debt repayment from Ukraine

(Front Row, L-R) Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Ukrainian state gas company Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolev attend a signing ceremony after gas talks between the European Union, Russia and Ukraine at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels October 30, 2014. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's top natural gas producer Gazprom said on Wednesday it had received $1.45 billion (908.69 million pounds) from Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz [NAFTO.UL] in repayment for unpaid debt, the first step towards Russia resuming gas supplies to Ukraine.

The payment by Naftogaz is the first to Gazprom since May, when a row over gas pricing and unpaid debts escalated between Moscow and Kiev.