Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelenskyi is a Ukrainian artist, screenwriter, producer and politician. Volodymyr (sometimes named Person of the Year by the Financial Times).

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"Ukraine's president has become the leader of the democratic world in a global fight against authoritarianism that could determine the course of this century," the publication said, noting that Ukraine surprised the world when it withstood a full-scale Russian invasion in February, then recovered much of the captured territory, and now the Ukrainian army continues to advance south and east, even with the onset of winter, with the aim of liberating all Ukrainian territory, including the Donbas and Crimea regions.

In addition, Kyiv was able to unite the West in a coalition in support of Ukraine, especially in terms of finances and arms supplies.

Nine months after the brutal struggle for national survival against the Russian invaders Volodymyr Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky is a Ukrainian artist, screenwriter, producer and politician. Volodymyr (sometimes he looks tired, with dark circles under his eyes. What he would like to do instead of facing a ruthless invader is fishing with his son. "I want just to catch carp in the Dnieper River," he says.

The extraordinary president may have to wait a long time to get a taste of normal life, despite a surprising string of battlefield successes for Ukrainian forces.

But the people's message is typical of a leader who still portrays himself as a man of modest tastes and a deep sense of humanity, qualities that have won him the admiration of Ukrainians and their supporters abroad.

It's the mirror image of the fictional common man-turned-president he played in the hit satirical TV series Servant of the People, which shot him to stardom.

He is also the antithesis of Russian President Vladimir Putin, hidden in the Kremlin, whose obsession with rebuilding the empire has cost the lives of tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of people, writes the Financial Times.

Zelensky to Ukrainians: We must do everything in our power to survive this winter

Written off by many Ukrainians before the February invasion as something of a joke, an amateur struggling to meet the challenge of high office, Zelensky, 44, has earned a place in history with an extraordinary display of leadership and fortitude.

Zelensky's decision to stay in Kyiv at the beginning of the invasion, rather than accept the US offer to evacuate, was one of the most significant moments in the war, mobilizing the Ukrainian army and people for resistance.

It came as a surprise to Ukrainians and Western allies, who did not have high expectations of the country's political leaders.

The Financial Times compared Zelensky to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who went on the radio to rally his country during World War II.

Zelensky uses social media to campaign relentlessly for military and financial support from the West, turning the plight of his people into a moral lever to influence leaders in Europe and the US.

He persuaded the Europeans to shoulder the huge costs of opposing Putin and offer Kyiv a path to EU membership.

Zelensky has also become a personification of the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russian aggression.

For these reasons, Zelensky was chosen as the person of the year, writes "Financial Times".

In an interview with the publication, Zelensky recalls the first days of the invasion and says that he is not really brave: "I am more responsible than brave. I just hate to disappoint people".

Doubts about Zelensky's suitability to lead his nation into war are dispelled with Russia's attack, Dir.bg reported.

The president seems to have stepped into a new role - along with a new outfit in a protective color.

Yulia Mendel, who served as Zelensky's press secretary, says he lacked the experience and discipline to be a great leader in peacetime, but was better suited to lead in wartime.

"He's a man of chaos," she says.

"During war, chaos reigns. He feels at home."

But most remarkable is Zelensky's endless communication.

His nightly video messages and Telegram posts lifted the spirits of a weary population, the Financial Times said, recalling one message directed at Moscow in September - "No power or no you? No you" that became a rallying cry on social media for many Ukrainians.

Zelensky addressed countless parliaments, conferences and events - from the Grammy Awards to the Glastonbury Festival.

Each time he adapts his message to the audience, often appealing to the hearts and minds of the people rather than their governments.

He used his position to pressure - and sometimes shame - governments into providing large quantities of weapons.

An exception to Zelensky's confident messages was his insistence that the missile strike that killed two people in Poland on November 15 was the work of Russia, the newspaper recalls.

"Although Polish and US officials said it was likely a deflected Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile, Zelensky called it a 'very significant escalation' that required an allied response - putting him at odds with Washington, Warsaw and other European capitals that strive not to be drawn into the war.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky

person of the year