The Ukrainian government is aware that there are problems in gas payments to Russia, but the problems "can hardly be called critical," Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said in Kiev Tuesday.

"The government keeps this issue under control," Azarov told reporters.

He added that Russia's gas exporter Gazprom and Ukraine's state-run firm Naftogaz are the responsible business entities, which should settle the issue.

Earlier on Tuesday, the management of Russia's Gazprom said it was concerned over Ukraine's failure to pay the overdue gas payments.

Under a contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom, Kiev must pay for its gas imports no later than October 7 following gas supplies.

Ukraine, which is paying nearly 410 US dollars per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas, has long been seeking to reduce gas purchases from its neighbor.