Germany plans to stop importing Russian oil by the end of the year even if the European Union fails to agree on a Europe-wide ban as part of the next package of sanctions, Bloomberg news agency reported citing government sources.

According to the officials, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration is already making efforts to strike deals with alternative suppliers, and the government is confident it can solve the remaining logistical problems within the next six to seven months.

As the agency’s interlocutors noted, Scholz’s government intends to promote its national plan within the framework of European sanctions against Russia. At the same time, the sources did not specify which countries will make up the deficit.

Meanwhile, the agency said that oil sanctions and energy security will be in the center of attention at Scholz’s meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Thursday, as well as during talks with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Berlin on Friday.