Russia gas flows still frozen; Ukraine banks on mild weather to hold out

MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine signalled it may hold off from paying Russia's billion-dollar gas invoice - part of an EU-brokered agreement to restart supplies frozen since June - in the hope mild weather can help it last out longer as it grapples with near-bankruptcy.

EU officials worked out a deal two weeks ago under which Ukraine would pay Moscow $1.45 billion (0.92 billion pounds) towards what it owed for gas supplies to ease a standoff over prices - and lift the threat to Europe, which relies on Ukraine as a key transit point for fuel.