German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is against a ban on Russian oil and gas as part of Western sanctions against Moscow, as it could endanger Europe's energy security.

“Europe has deliberately exempted energy supplies from Russia from sanctions,"  Scholz said in a statement.

“Supplying Europe with energy for heat generation, mobility, electricity supply and industry cannot be secured in any other way at the moment. It is therefore of essential importance for the provision of public services and the daily lives of our citizens.”

The chancellor added that Germany has been working with its partners in the European Union and beyond for months to develop alternatives to Russian energy. But this cannot be done overnight, "so it is a conscious decision on our part" to allow companies to continue their involvement in energy supplies from Russia.