The European Union is ready to give its member states the right to stop importing gas from Russia and Belarus. This will allow them not to pay compensation to Moscow under the contracts. This was reported by the Financial Times.

According to the draft proposed by Brussels, any member state will be able to block companies from Russia and Belarus from obtaining capacity on its gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals.

EU member states may have the right to "partially or, where justified, completely restrict" access to the infrastructure of gas operators from Russia and Belarus to protect their vital security interests, the FT writes.

According to a senior official of the bloc, the proposal could provide EU energy companies with a basis for withdrawing from contracts with Russian gas suppliers without having to pay huge compensation.

Negotiators from EU member states and the European Parliament are expected to approve the preliminary text on Friday, December 8.