There is a high probability that Moscow will completely stop supplying gas to Europe, said French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, Politico reported.

"Let's prepare for a total cut-off of Russian gas; Today that is the most likely option," Le Maire said.

He said the French government is working to identify companies that should be given priority protection in the event of a supply disruption. "It means looking in a very specific way at each company, each employment area; Which are the companies that should reduce their energy consumption and which are the ones that cannot."

As an example of companies that should not be deprived of gas supply even in the event of an emergency, Le Maire cited the large building materials manufacturer Saint-Gobain. He pointed to the possible damage to production equipment and the risk of environmental consequences.

The French government has proposed a series of measures to manage possible gas supply disruptions, including granting itself the right to requisition gas-fired power plants as part of a broader legislative proposal on "purchasing power." The bill will be debated in the French National Assembly this week.