Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement to ensure natural gas supplies to the war-torn nation for the month of March.

It comes after Russian state-owned company Gazprom threatened to turn off the taps last week unless it received outstanding pre-payments agreed in a deal last October.

It was decided the so-called ‘Winter Package’ would cover the period until the end of March this year.

The deal also ensures gas supplies to the European Union are secure.

Under the agreement, Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz will pre-pay and order gas from Gazprom to cover all domestic usage this month.

Gazprom will deliver up to 114 million cubic meters per day of pre-paid and ordered gas quantities to “mutually agreed delivery points”, the European Commission said.

EU Vice President Maros Šefčovič added: “I am satisfied we managed to safeguard the full application of the Winter Package for the supply needs in Ukraine. We also agreed to take up trilateral negotiations on the follow-up to the Winter Package. I am reassured the supply of gas to the EU markets remains secure”.