Refusal to import Russian oil and gas will threaten the economic and social stability of Germany, said German Finance Minister Christian Lindner to Die Zeit weekly.

According to him, he wants Germany to stop importing Russian oil and gas as soon as possible, but this is not possible immediately.

"If I could follow my heart," there would be a ban on Russian oil and gas in Germany, Lindner said in an interview published by German weekly Die Zeit on Wednesday.

An immediate ban on imports of Russian oil and gas, however, is not feasible at present, because it would endanger Germany's economy and social stability, the minister added.

"We can't be responsible for that," he said.