The European Union (EU) will announce a plan to prohibit new Russian natural gas agreements by the end of this year and gradually terminate current contracts with Moscow by the close of 2027, according to three EU officials cited by Reuters.

The decision was in response followed the elimination of Russian fossil fuel imports after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As part of the plans, the EU will propose a ban on new Russian natural gas import agreements and immediate contracts, the officials explained.

It will also provide a legal proposal to prohibit the current contracts of Russian liquefied natural gas imports (LNG) by the end of 2027, noting that this legal proposal needs approval from the European parliament.