"Such decisions were motivated by objective circumstances of that period. Nazism had not yet been uprooted. Europe lay in ruins. Consequently, the victors could not but assume collective responsibility for its political and economic revival," Putin writes in his article that is published by Le Figaro.
"I am deeply convinced that the essence of the 1945 Yalta accords was as follows: The anti-Hitler coalition's leaders strove to build a new international system that would prevent the revival of nazism, and that would shield the world from destructive global conflicts," the Russian head of state says.
In his words, the United Nations Organization was established and collective-security principles (that are embodied in the UN Charter) drafted for this purpose.
In Putin's opinion, there exists a historical paradox. The Yalta conference was made possible by accord between the anti-Hitler coalition's members. However, that conference also facilitated new geopolitical rivalry and competition between the "superpowers". In the long run, the Yalta conference made it possible to attain Helsinki accords and detente.
Putin, who believes that US, British and Soviet leaders had assumed responsibility for post-war Europe's future, suggests that Yalta accords be assessed in an objective manner.
