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.

Hindsight may be 20/20, but the soft-pedaling on Russia by the former chancellor of Germany hardly stands Ukraine, or the rest of Europe, in good stead.

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

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended her controversial gas agreements with Russia, stating they were aimed at supporting German businesses and maintaining peace with Moscow. In a candid interview with the BBC,

Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel gives a spirited defence of her 16 years at the helm of Europe's top economy in her memoir "Freedom", released in 30 languages on Tuesday. In the full memoir,