Germany is “ready” to endorse an EU boycott of Russian oil amid mounting pressure on Berlin to put an end to Moscow’s lucrative energy exports.

The move is a significant boost in the bloc’s efforts to turn off the taps to Russian fossil fuels in response to the war in Ukraine. 

Berlin appears to be coming around to that point of view after several weeks of pushing back against sanctions on Russian energy, which its economy depends on. 

While gas remains a sticking point, at a recent meeting of European diplomats, Berlin “indicated an awareness that oil will probably be part of a sixth package” of sanctions, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

“On oil, it no longer seems a question of if but when,” the source told the Telegraph.

A ban on EU imports of Russian coal has already been passed and will take effect from mid-August.

Recession fears

Kyiv, London and Washington have all pressed for sanctions to be extended to Russia’s lucrative oil and gas imports in order to starve its war machine of much-needed funds.

Germany had previously rejected the measure amid fears it would leave millions of homes across the country without heating and plunge its economy into a steep recession, wiping out some 400,00 jobs, according to the country’s top economic institutions.  

The prediction has given Olaf Scholz, Germany’s chancellor, cover to block such a move during discussions on how to ramp up economic pain on the Kremlin.

But his opposition sparked harsh criticism, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even singling out Berlin over its reliance on Russian energy imports.

EU leaders stepped up their attempts to impose an embargo on Russian gas and oil exports in the wake of the discovery of mass civilian killings committed by Russian soldiers in Bucha, a town north west of Kyiv. 

That was the moment Berlin shifted and said it would discuss targeting oil as part of the sixth round of sanctions, which are currently being drawn up by European Commission officials.

Initial proposals were said to have been rejected by Germany, as well as Austria and Hungary.

Any blockade will likely include a lengthy transition period to enable EU countries to wind down their contracts with Russian suppliers and find alternative supplies.