Volodymyr Zelensky named TIME's person of the year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been named TIME's person of the year.

The accolade was announced today (December 7), with the magazine citing his leadership amid the country's conflict against Russia.

Person of the Year is the US publication's annual issue which names a person, group, idea, or an object that 'for better or for worse... has done the most to influence the events of the year'.

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Recent winners of the award, which has been given yearly since 1927, include Kamala Harris, Joe Biden and Greta Thunberg.

Last year, TIME sparked controversy when Tesla CEO and now 'Chief Twit' Elon Musk was handed the accolade.

However, most people agree with Zelensky earning the title, having put his life on the line in order to lead his country through the ongoing war when it started back in February.

Taking to Twitter, one wrote: "That is wonderful that Time put Volodymyr Zelensky on the front cover 2022."

"Great choice," said another. "The Best Person on the Year. Time... You got it correct!"

Yes! Slava Ukraini," added a third. "I would also add our Iron General, Valerii Zaluzhnyi."

A fourth chimed in: "Volodymyr Zelensky was an easy choice as Time’s 2022 Person of the year. A courageous freedom fighter and statesman.

"Standing up for the Truth can be hard but must be made."

Ukraine Presidents Office/Alamy Stock Photo

The conflict in Ukraine is ongoing, with reports stating yesterday (6 December) that Russia had fired missiles across the country for the eighth time in eight weeks, causing significant disruption to its power supply.

As mentioned in TIME's cover story, this is one of many disruptions which are making the winter months even more challenging for Ukrainians this year.

Reporter Simon Shuster wrote: "Zelensky’s success as a wartime leader has relied on the fact that courage is contagious.

"It spread through Ukraine’s political leadership in the first days of the invasion, as everyone realized the President had stuck around.

"If that seems like a natural thing for a leader to do in a crisis, consider historical precedent."

He went on to point out that just six months earlier, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani fled the capital when Taliban forces closed in.

Former Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych similarly ran away from Kyiv when protestors descended upon his residence.

"There wasn’t much in Zelensky’s biography to predict his willingness to stand and fight," Shuster continued.

"He had never served in the military or shown much interest in its affairs. He had only been President since April 2019.

"His professional instincts derived from a lifetime as an actor on the stage, a specialist in improv comedy, and a producer in the movie business.

"That experience turned out to have its advantages. Zelensky was adaptable, trained not to lose his nerve under pressure. He knew how to read a crowd and react to its moods and expectations.

"Now his audience was the world. He was determined not to let them down.

"His decision to stay at the compound in the face of possible assassination set an example, making it more difficult for his underlings to cut and run."

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information

Topics: Russia, Ukraine, World News, Volodymyr Zelensky