DEAUVILLE (France), June 06 /ITAR-TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin does not rule out the possibility of returning the name of Stalingrad to the Russian city of Volgograd located on the Volga River Stalingrad was the epicenter of the most grandiose battle of World War II and was almost completely destroyed by the unparalleled intensity of fighting between Soviet and Nazi troops.

Answering a question of a WWII veteran, Putin said that “in line with our legislation the issue can be settled by the regional and municipal authorities.”

“In this case residents should hold a referendum where they will decide on it (the change of the name),” Putin said.

“We’ll do as the residents say,” the president said.

He recalled that in Paris there is a square named Stalingrad and other cities in Europe keep this name in memory.

“It wasn’t me who changed the name,” Putin said as a joke adding seriously that “we’ll mull over how it can be done [the referendum].