WFLA

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Spirit of Ukraine are Time magazine’s Person of the Year

In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and “the Spirit of Ukraine” have been named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2022.

Zelenskyy, a comedian who had no political experience when elected three years ago, has emerged as a world leader during his country’s war against Russia.

“Zelenskyy really galvanized the world in a way we haven’t seen in decades,” TIME’s Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal said on TODAY as he revealed the magazine’s selection. “Not just other governments, but major companies that pulled out of Russia in mass and countless indidviduals who came together around this cause, around this county.”

Zelenskyy was chosen from a shortlist that included SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.