Germany's longtime former chancellor, Angela Merkel, defended her policy on Ukraine on Tuesday, before presenting her memoirs in Berlin. She stuck by her refusal to pave the way for Ukraine to join the Western military alliance NATO via a Membership Action Plan at a summit in Bucharest in 2008.

Angela Merkel appeared to put her country and its economic interests first when it came to buying Russian energy or during the eurozone crisis - when southern EU nations blamed her for squeezing them with austerity measures in order to rescue German banks and businesses.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented her autobiography "Freedom" at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. During the event, she expressed her hope that the book would be understood by people who do not engage in politics.

Germany's Angela Merkel recalls tricky dealings with world leaders from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin during her 16-year chancellorship in her frank memoirs, published as her legacy comes under intense scrutiny.

The former German chancellor feared retaliation by Russia if Ukraine joined NATO, and asked Pope Francis for advice about dealing with Donald Trump. #EuropeNews

Germany's ex-chancellor Angela Merkel reflected on her 16-year tenure in her memoir Freedom, released Tuesday, confronting criticisms of her policies on Russia and migration, which some argue left Ger