Time magazine included the presidents of Russia and Ukraine Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky in the list of the most influential people of 2022. The text about Putin was written by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and about Zelensky by US President Joe Biden.

Biden notes that the President of Ukraine inspired and united the “countries of the free world” and talks specifically about the West, while Navalny spoke in detail about the Russian president. The text written by Navalny from the colony turned out to be almost twice as long.

“When Vladimir Putin launched a brutal war against Ukraine and Ukrainians needed a leader, the words of Vladimir Zelensky echoed around the world: “The President is here.”

In Zelensky, the people of Ukraine have found a leader worthy of his courage and resilience as citizens across the country – shopkeepers and soldiers, tailors and truck drivers – fight for their homes and freedom. Every time we speak, I hear in Zelensky’s voice the unyielding determination of a man who deeply believes in his duty to his people and daily fulfills the duty to lead his nation in this dark and difficult hour.

The nations of the free world, inspired by the example of President Zelensky, are more united, more determined and more purposeful than at any time in recent memory. With the support of the United States, our allies and partners, he left his mark on history and proved to the world that Ukraine will endure and its people will eventually achieve the democratic future they have long desired.”

“Perhaps the true calling of Vladimir Putin is to teach lessons to everyone, from world leaders and experts to ordinary people. In 2022, he has been especially successful in this.

He reminded us again that a path that starts with “little falsifications” in elections always leads to dictatorship. And dictatorships always lead to war. And this lesson should not be forgotten.

World leaders have been hypocritically talking for years about the “pragmatic approach” and the benefits of international trade. In doing so, they allowed themselves to profit from Russian oil and gas while Putin’s power grew ever stronger. This war will cost hundreds of times more than those lucrative oil and gas contracts that used to be celebrated with champagne.

Putin reminded us all of the “duck test”: if something looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s most likely a duck.

In this case, the same logic should be applied: if someone destroys independent media, organizes political assassinations and adheres to his imperial beliefs, then he is a lunatic, capable of wreaking havoc in the center of Europe in the 21st century. And you really shouldn’t hug him in international forums.

Right now, Putin is also teaching us a lesson on how to reset all the country’s economic successes achieved in 20 years.

However, now the main question arises: how to stop the evil madman with an army, nuclear weapons and a country that has the status of a permanent member of the UN Security Council. And this question has yet to be answered. And we are the ones who have to do it.”

To keep getting BBC news, subscribe to our channels:

Download our application: