BERLIN (AP) — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalls Vladimir Putin’s “power games” over the years, remembers contrasting meetings with Barack Obama and Donald Trump and says she asked herself whether she could have done more to prevent Brexit, in her memoirs published Tuesday.

Asked about the incident on Thursday, Russia's Vladimir Putin denied knowing about Angela Merkel’s fear of dogs and said he had later apologised to her.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s black Labrador Koni entered the room, causing visible discomfort to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a notable 2007 diplomatic meeting, who has a known fear of dogs.

She accused Putin of deliberately using the Labrador as a "demonstration of power" and said his facial expressions made it clear he enjoyed her discomfort. Images from the meeting