Russian President Vladimir Putin described the late Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev as a politician who greatly influenced world history. Putin said so in a condolence telegram, which the Kremlin published on its website today. “Mikhail Gorbachev was a politician and statesman who had a huge impact on the course of world history. He stood at the head of our country in a period of complex, dramatic changes, tremendous foreign policy, economic and social challenges. He was deeply aware that reforms were necessary, and he tried to present own solution to pressing problems,” the text says. Open gallery Putin also praised the humanitarian, charitable and educational activities of Gorbachev’s last years. Gorbachev, the first and last president of the Soviet Union, died on Tuesday at the age of 91.