Time magazine named Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 2022’s “Person of the Year” for his bravery in the face of Russia’s invasion and for inspiring Ukrainians to stay strong and resist Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in late February.
Time’s Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal said on Wednesday that Zelenskyy’s decision to remain in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv and rally his country was “fateful,” and that this year’s decision was “the most clear-cut in memory.”
On February 26, the Ukrainian embassy in the United Kingdom announced on Twitter that Zelenskyy had turned down an offer by the US to evacuate Kyiv.
“The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” he said, before adding, “Ukrainians are proud of their president.”
His words became a well-known motto.
Refusing to flee as Russian bombs fell, the former comedian rallied his countrymen in broadcasts from the capital and travelled across his war-torn country, the publication noted in bestowing its annual title.
Since Russia’s invasion began, the 44-year-old Zelenskyy has delivered daily speeches that have been followed not only by Ukrainians, but also by citizens and governments all over the world.
He has fought on the front lines and recently celebrated in the streets of Kherson as Ukraine drove Russia out of the strategic southern city.
“His information offensive shifted the geopolitical weather system, setting off a wave of action that swept the globe,” Felsenthal said in announcing the winner.
“Whether the battle for Ukraine fills one with hope or with fear, Volodymyr Zelenskyy galvanised the world in a way we haven’t seen in decades,” Felsenthal added.
Zelenskyy’s reaction to Russia’s invasion has elevated him from the embattled leader of a struggling European outlier to a global household name.
He has also become a symbol of opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was named Time’s Person of the Year in 2007.
Zelenskyy, who was born in the southern industrial city of Kryvyi Rih, in the heart of a predominantly Russian-speaking region, has portrayed his country as being on the front lines of a larger conflict.
His appeals to the West for military and financial assistance, at times echoing the words of British wartime leader Winston Churchill, have assisted Ukraine in first halting Russia’s advance and then retaking territory.
Zelenskyy shares the 2022 title with “the spirit of Ukraine,” which Felsenthal described as “countless individuals inside and outside the country” fighting behind the scenes, including chefs and surgeons.
The edition’s cover art depicts Zelenskyy in his now-iconic green fatigues, surrounded by dozens of people, including demonstrators carrying the Ukrainian flag, who represent that spirit.
“The Russians need to understand … They will have no forgiveness. They will have no acceptance in the world,” Zelenskyy said in an interview published in the issue.
In 1927, Time introduced the Person of the Year award.