Zelenskyy is Financial Times' Person of 2022
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi (Photo:Press service of the president)
The British newspaper Financial Times called Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Person of the Year, in an article published on Dec. 5.
FT reasoning for the choice was that "the president of Ukraine embodies the resilience of his people and has become a standard bearer for liberal democracy."
FT called the Ukrainian president the antipode of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who hides in the Kremlin obsessed with imperial ambitions which cost the lives of tens or even hundreds of thousands of people.
The newspaper compared Zelenskyy with the UK’s Prime Minister during World War 2, Winston Churchill, who provided the British people with regular radio addresses. The FT believes that Zelenskyy’s use of social media mirrors Churchill’s actions, and allows Ukraine to gain military and financial assistance from the West.
Zelenskyy recalled the first days of the Russian full-scale invasion and his decision to stay in Kyiv in an interview with Financial Times: "I am more responsible than I am brave. I just hate to let people down..."
The FT emphasized that the president's decision to stay, instead of accepting a U.S. proposal to be evacuated, became one of the most important points of the war, motivating the Ukrainian army and people to resist. Also, "it was a surprise to Ukrainians and western allies, who had low expectations of the country's political leaders."
On Oct. 30, Zelenskyy received the Oxi Courage Award for his leadership in defending Ukraine, which contributes to the promotion and preservation of freedom and democracy.
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