"Today, it is impossible to guarantee one's own security by infringing on that of others," Putin wrote in a letter to a grade school in Latvia which asked him to report his world views for a class project.

"That is why (nations) must lead more profound and even-handed policies that take into account the positions of one's partners," said Putin in a portion of the letter distributed by the Kremlin.

He added that governments must decide what was is best "in the interests of the whole international community. And here, any mistake can lead to unpredictable results."

His comments came as Russian forces themselves were waging a 43-month-old military offensive in separatist Chechnya which Putin is describing as an "anti-terrorist operation" but which has been condemned by human rights groups.

In a clear reference to the United States, Putin said global powers should not "follow the temptation of speaking from a position of force, ignoring a partner's views on international relations.

"This cannot happen if we want to keep our civilization intact."

Putin, along with French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, used a Saint Petersburg summit this weekend to stress the primacy of law as embodied in the United Nations as the means of resolving global crises.

The most vocal opponents to the US-led war in Iraq also urged the world body to play a central role in the reconstruction of post-war Iraq.

Permanent UN Security Council members Russia and France had threatened to use their vetos to block a UN resolution that would have authorized the war against Iraq, prompting the US-led coalition to withdraw the draft and launch war without UN approval.

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