THE German chancellor, Angela Merkel, is under pressure from leading industrialists to roll back sanctions against Russia, as some of her backers switch their support to her party’s Eurosceptic rival, the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merkel’s aides say she has been “annoyed” by phone calls from chief executives of large companies, demanding a relaxation of Germany’s stance towards the Kremlin in order to preserve ?59bn a year in trade with Russia.

Berlin was initially reluctant to impose sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the shooting down in July of a Malaysia Airlines jet as it flew over the east of the country — apparently by Moscow-backed separatists — forced Merkel’s hand and she became an avid supporter.

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