After years of debate and negotiation, the European Union is preparing to permanently halt Russian gas supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, overriding objections from the two Central European countries. The decision is expected to be backed by the bloc’s 27 member states on Monday.

At a plenary meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), President Vladimir Putin stated that although "this is their choice," the amounts of Russian gas supplies to Europe will decrease if Ukraine refuses to transit it., News.Az reports citing TASS .