Times Names Merkel 'Person of the Year' for Preserving Stability in Europe

According to the newspaper, Merkel has shown herself as a true leader at a time when relations between East and West were close to becoming the most dangerous geopolitical crisis since the Cold War.

MOSCOW, December 26 (Sputnik) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named as The Times' Person of the Year for her role in preserving stability in Europe, the newspaper announced Friday.

"For her central role in preserving European stability… Angela Merkel is named today as The Times Person of the Year," The Times stated.

According to the newspaper, the German chancellor was chosen for "taking control" over negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Crimea's reunification with Russia. Merkel has shown herself as a true leader at a time when relations between East and West were close to becoming the most dangerous geopolitical crisis since the Cold War.

The Ukrainian crisis poses a serious challenge to peace and stability in Europe, not only in economic terms, but also due to a reappearance of Cold War rhetoric, as well as NATO boosting its military presence near Russia's borders, which has become the basis for growing concerns among the Russian leadership.

Over the past months, relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated over Crimea's reunification with Russia and Moscow's alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis. The West has introduced several rounds of sanctions against Moscow, aimed at weakening its banking, defense and energy sectors, while Russia has responded with food imports restrictions.