The company late on Wednesday withdrew its 2022 outlook as a first prominent victim of Russian gas supply restrictions, which limit its financial leeway, sending shares in Uniper and Finnish parent Fortum down.

"The best solution would be if the state took a share in Uniper," said Harald Seegatz, who is also deputy chairman of the firm's supervisory council. "Perhaps the state could even become the main shareholder."

(Reporting by Tom Kaeckenhoff, writing by Vera Eckert, editing by Miranda Murray)