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Putin named Times’ International Person of the Year ― RT News

One of Britain’s most influential newspapers has named Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘Man of the Year.’ The Times awarded the title because Putin "succeeded in one of his most enduring ambitions: to bring Moscow back to the international high table."

According to the newspaper, it was the Syrian insurgency that “propelled the president back into the front ranks of effective world statesmen,” when he managed to steer the West away from military intervention. He then used the escalating conflict to boost Russia's clout on the international stage.

“The narrow, but achievable and worthy aim of taking apart President Assad’s chemical arsenal was a face-saver for the West. And it established Mr Putin as a Middle East player once again; for Arab leaders and the Iranians he was suddenly the man who knew how to head off Western-led regime change,” The Times said.

Apart from his key diplomatic victory in Syria, one of President Putin's largest achievements in 2013 came when he "wrestled the EU to the ground on Ukraine,” according to The Times. However, Russia's decision to invest US$15 billion in 'brotherly' Ukraine and grant a generous $7 billion gas discount was pragmatic and based on economic facts, Putin stressed at his annual press conference. The leader noted that Russia expects a five percent return on bond investments, stating that if Ukraine abandons Russia entirely for the EU, it would become an "appendage" to the European economy and would see a sharp drop.

The Times mentioned that Putin also "claims the laurels for releasing people - from the oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky to the Pussy Riot performers.” President Putin has pardoned the former oil tycoon after a decade of imprisonment, citing humanitarian reasons.