The European Union has banned Russian news outlets Russia Today and Sputnik, according to its top diplomat Josep Borrell.

Speaking in a joint news conference in Brussels on Sunday, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy announced that the bloc would ban the two outlets in a bid “to fight” Russian disinformation.

“Today we are taking a crucial step to turn off the tap for the Russian's information manipulation in Europe by banning Russia Today and Sputnik from broadcasting in the European Union,” Borrell said.

“We are killing the snake on its neck,” the diplomat continued.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the European Union is shutting down the EU airspace to Russia.

“We are proposing a prohibition on all Russian-owned, Russian-registered and Russian-controlled aircraft. These aircraft will no more be able to land in, take off or overfly the territory of the European Union. This will apply to any plane”, von der Leyen said.

“Our airspace will be closed to every Russian plane. And that includes the private jets of oligarchs too,” she said.

Many European countries had already closed their airspace to Russian airlines and aircrafts as of Sunday, including Germany, France and Italy.