Which statement best describes the post-war landscape as a result of the Yalta Conference?

The statement that the Yalta Conference set the stage for subsequent Cold War tensions accurately captures the complex outcomes of the conference held in February 1945. At Yalta, the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union discussed the reorganization of post-war Europe. The agreements made, particularly regarding Eastern Europe, reflected differing visions for governance and influence.

The conference solidified the division between the Western powers, advocating for democratic governments, and the Soviet approach, which favored communist regimes in the territories it occupied. This fundamental ideological rift laid the groundwork for the Cold War, as it became clear that the Allies would struggle to reconcile their differing political systems and aspirations. The division of Europe, particularly with the emergence of a Soviet sphere of influence and the establishment of satellite states, is a direct result of the discussions that took place at Yalta. Thus, while the conference aimed to maintain peace and cooperation, it inadvertently heightened tensions that would define the world order for decades to come.