U.S. magazine Time has named Russian President Vladimir Putin on its annual list of the world's "100 most influential people.
Other politicians who made the Time list published this week included U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who provided the write-up on Putin, said Russia's recent interference in Ukraine has shown that "Putin's worldview is colored by toxic fictions."
Putin's domestic approval ratings have soared after the annexation of Crimea — reaching 80 percent according to a recent survey by independent pollster Levada Center — but "his increased influence will be temporary," Albright said.
"To some, Putin has 'won' Crimea," she said. "Will he recognize his 'victory' is Pyrrhic — or try to repeat it? History is filled with aggressors who triumphed for a moment. Then failed."
Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, speaking Thursday in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, suggested that Moscow's supposed victory in Crimea may end up eroding Russia's global influence, and that Putin's actions in Ukraine aimed to "avenge a personal grudge."
Last year, both Forbes magazine and British newspaper The Times named Putin "the most influential person of the year."
Neither Putin nor Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev made Time magazine's 2013 list, with Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin the only Russian on the list.
Read More:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
