German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habek said that his country cannot yet allow a complete embargo on Russian gas. Habek said this at a joint briefing with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Berlin.
"Right now we cannot afford to impose a full embargo. We have filled the gas storage facilities by 40%. This will be enough for the summer months," he said, adding that there are no conditions for wintering without Russian gas.
Habek assured that in the long term Germany should completely eliminate its dependence on Russian gas, but to do so, the economy should be strengthened by other energy sources and other suppliers.
"We will do everything necessary infrastructurally to introduce this embargo," the minister assured.
He recalled that Germany had agreed to an oil embargo and therefore could not afford to destroy the economy by banning the import of Russian gas as well.
