BERLIN (Reuters), – Germany’s Council of Economic Advisors cut its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), forecast for Europe’s biggest economy, on Wednesday. They cited economic uncertainty from Russia’s invasion.

The German government’s fiscal forecasters, which are based on the predictions of advisers, have cut the 2022 GDP projection for Germany to 1.8%, from 4.6%.

According to the advisors, Germany’s GDP will grow 3.6% by 2023.

A strong labor market and rising industrial output pointed towards an economic recovery before war broke out. “The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has drastically worsened the economic situation,” advisors claimed in a statement.

Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine further damaged supply chains, already stretched by COVID-19, as well as a sharp uptake in the prices for, which weighed on both companies and private consumption.

The council predicts that inflation will reach 6.1% by 2022, before dropping to 3.4% next.

However, experts stated that further effects of war are difficult to evaluate.

Volker Wieland, a council member, stated that Germany should “immediately pull out all stops in order to protect itself from a possible halt of Russian energy supplies” and also end its dependency on imports.

According to the council, this will allow Germany’s energy security to be improved over time even if energy prices remain high for some time.