The European Union on Monday proposed sanctions on Russian oil, with possible exemptions for wary countries, warning that complying in full with Moscow's request to receive gas payments in rubles would violate the existing EU sanctions.

The European Commission is expected to come up with the sixth package of EU sanctions this week against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including a potential embargo on buying Russian oil – a measure that would deprive Moscow of a large revenue stream but that has so far divided the EU countries.

Russia supplies 40% of EU gas and 26% of its oil imports.

To keep the 27-nation bloc united, the Commission may offer Hungary and Slovakia an exemption or a long transition period – with any overall ban likely to be phased in by the year-end, officials said on Monday.

Both Hungary and Slovakia are heavily dependent on Russian crude. Hungary has said it would oppose energy sanctions.

Resistance from other countries to an oil embargo appeared to be fading ahead of a meeting on Wednesday when ambassadors from the EU countries will discuss the proposed sanctions.

"We have managed to reach a situation where Germany is able to bear an oil embargo," German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Monday. "This means it won't be without consequences."

Austrian Climate and Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler said Vienna would agree to oil sanctions if other countries did.

EU countries have paid more than 47 billion euros ($47.43 billion) to Russia for gas and oil since it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, according to research organization the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Germany could back immediate EU ban

Germany said Monday it was prepared to back an immediate EU embargo on Russian oil, a major shift from Moscow's biggest energy customer that could let Europe impose such a ban within days.

Russia's energy exports – by far its biggest source of income – have so far largely been exempt from international sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Kyiv says that loophole means European countries are funding the Kremlin's war effort, sending Moscow hundreds of millions of euros every day.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has been more cautious than other Western leaders in backing Ukraine, has been under growing pressure to take a firmer line, including from within the Social Democrat's own governing coalition.

"Germany is not against an oil ban on Russia. Of course it is a heavy load to bear but we would be ready to do that," Habeck told reporters before talks with his EU colleagues in Brussels.

Germany had already reduced the share of Russian oil in its imports to 12% for 35% before Russia invaded Ukraine, but had previously said it needed months to phase out Russian crude to lessen the economic impact at home.

Gas crisis talks

At a meeting of EU energy ministers on Monday, the bloc sought to clarify its stance on Russia's demand that countries effectively pay for gas in rubles, or face losing their supply.

Russia cut gas supply to Bulgaria and Poland last week for refusing to comply with its payment scheme, raising fears that other countries could be next.

The Commission on Monday said complying with Russia's proposed scheme in full would breach existing EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but promised more detailed guidance on what companies can and cannot legally do.

"Paying rubles through the conversion mechanism managed by the Russian public authorities and a second dedicated account in Gazprombank is a violation of the sanctions and cannot be accepted," EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told a news conference after the ministers' meeting.

Moscow has said foreign gas buyers must deposit euros or dollars into an account at privately owned Russian bank Gazprombank, which would convert them into rubles.

Many European companies face payment deadlines this month and are seeking clarity on whether they can legally pay, after Brussels last month said complying with the scheme could breach EU sanctions, but also suggested countries could make sanctions-compliant payments if they declare the payment complete once it has been made in euros and before its conversion into rubles.

Russia's decree said a buyer's obligation would be deemed complete only after the foreign currency was converted to rubles.

European capitals are split over whether to engage with the mechanism at all, as the EU struggles to forge a united response.

Poland and Bulgaria refused to use the Russian scheme before Moscow cut their gas supply, and Warsaw on Monday said it was not acceptable for countries to engage with Russia's mechanism.

Germany last week echoed the commission's suggested workaround to allow companies to pay and Hungary said it would send euros to Gazprombank for conversion into rubles.

An immediate cut-off of Russian gas would tip countries, including Germany, into recession and require emergency measures such as factory closures to cope, according to analysts.

In the longer term, the EU plans to slash reliance on fossil fuels to meet climate change goals. Brussels will unveil plans later this month to expand renewable energy and renovate buildings faster, to help countries quit Russian oil and gas within a few years.

Simson said countries were expected to reach an agreement within a few weeks on emergency legislation requiring them to fill gas storage 80% ahead of this winter, allowing them to start negotiations with the European Parliament, which must also approve the rules. EU gas storage is currently 33% full.