Berlin knew the risks of flying over war-torn east Ukraine before Flight MH17 was shot out of the sky last year but
did not inform German airlines, media reported on Sunday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to further steps in putting last month's Ukraine ceasefire accords into action on Monday evening in a phone conversation with French President Francois Hollande, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko.
The German government said on Wednesday that pro-Russian rebels' advance into the eastern Ukrainian city of Debaltseve was a serious breach of ceasefire terms agreed last week in Minsk.
Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Petro Poroschenko of Ukraine on Monday evening, agreeing on how observers could be used to maintain the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.
UPDATE: Chancellor Merkel, along with the Presidents of France, Russia and Ukraine, issued a statement confirming that a ceasefire agreement for eastern Ukraine had been reached in Minsk.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Francois Hollande of France meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Minsk on Wednesday to try and put an end to the Ukraine crisis. The Local looks at just what the stakes are at the negotiating table.
Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to meet with her French, Russian and Ukrainian counterparts on Wednesday in a frantic bid to halt escalating bloodshed in Eastern Ukraine.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that she and French President Francois Hollande's initiative for conflict-wracked Ukraine was aimed at defending European peace".
In an interview with Munich-based daily Süddeutsche Zeitung published on Thursday, American Vice President Joe Biden discussed possible solutions to the Ukraine-Russia conflict ahead of Chancellor Angela Merkel's U.S. visit.
Chancellor Angela Merkel urged her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Sunday to "put pressure" on Ukraine's pro-Kremlin separatists to end a recent upsurge in violence.
Germany would be prepared to negotiate a free-trade agreement between the European Union and Russia as a way out of the deadlocked Ukraine conflict, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has set strict terms for easing EU sanctions on Russia as the 28-nation bloc unlocked new aid to help Ukraine overcome its devastating Kremlin-backed revolt.
Hundreds of German companies active in Russia are suspending or will cancel projects due to international sanctions over Ukraine and the weakened rouble.
Germany labelled Russian court sentences against top opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his brother on Tuesday "another blow against outspoken civil society" in the country.
Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet with the leaders of France, Russia and Ukraine on January 15 to discuss ongoing peace efforts with the Moscow-backed separatist rebels.
Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany agreed on new peace talks this week on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroschenko announced on Monday evening.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Thursday that sanctions against Russia remain "unavoidable" until Ukraine regains its sovereignty and independence.
The government rejected on Friday the justification given by Russian President Vladimir Putin for annexing the Crimea in his annual state of the nation address.
Chancellor Angela Merkel was unflinching in her criticisms of President Vladimir Putin of Russia in a Bundestag speech seen as confirming a turning point in German foreign policy on Wednesday.
A Moscow strategy paper seen by German media shows how Russian President Vladimir Putin has been advised to influence Europe through right-wing populist parties including Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD).
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was no closer to an answer to escalating violence in Ukraine on Tuesday night despite a surprise meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called on the West not to lose hope in what may be a long struggle with Russia over Ukraine, but vowed that the Kremlin "will not prevail".
