Zelensky’s unlikely career path has taken him from comic actor to wartime president in the space of only a few years. Zelensky has been named Time person of the year, along with "the spirit of Ukraine." Zelensky follows Elon Musk as TIME person of the year for 2021. Russian President Vladimir Putin was TIME person of the year in 2007. The title is not necessarily awarded as an honor, but indicates that the winner had influence on the world’s events.

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