KIEV, March 9 - The Ukrainian government on Thursday issued a license allowing Ukrgaz-Energo, a 50-50 Russian-Ukrainian joint venture, to distribute natural gas in Ukraine, a government spokesman said.

The decision was awaited since Feb. 4 when the joint venture had been created between RosUkrEnergo, a Swiss-based gas trader controlled by Gazprom, and Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the national gas company.