KIEV, Jan. 26 ??“ Ukraine, hit by extremely cold weather, admitted Thursday it had exceeded normal levels of using Russian natural gas in January, but pledged to compensate Russia??™s gas monopoly Gazprom for the overdraft.

The revelation may trigger a new wave of tensions between Ukraine and Russia as Gazprom will probably seek to charge Ukraine $230 per 1,000 cubic meters for extra gas used, a price that Ukraine can barely afford.