Dodik defends Putin's invasion of Ukraine, citing Western deception

He praised Putin as someone who "perfectly understands where the world stands, especially where Russia stands." According to Dodik, the Russian president responded "quite justifiably" by initiating the military campaign following what he called numerous Western lies, including the Minsk Protocol.

Dodik referred to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s past comments, in which she reportedly said the Minsk Protocol was necessary to buy time to strengthen Ukraine and prepare it to confront Russia, as quoted by TASS.

“This only proves how far-sighted President Putin was, as he could foresee the conflict that would erupt on Russian soil, in line with Western plans,” Dodik stated badelessly.

He further argued, according to Bljesak.info, that the United States regularly intervenes whenever one of its citizens encounters trouble abroad, and questioned why Russia should not have the same right.

"Don’t Russians also have the right to protect their 15 million people or more?" Dodik asked.

Dodik is currently under suspicion for attacking the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina, following decisions he made after being sentenced by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to one year in prison and a six-year ban from political office for failing to comply with decisions of the High Representative. The Bosnian police have not arrested him, reportedly due to the risk of clashes with police officers from Republika Srpska who are guarding him.

Dodik has also come under increasing criticism for his pro-Russian stance in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Western Balkans region.

Former High Representative to BiH Wolfgang Petritsch previously described Dodik as "Putin’s pawn" during an appearance on the political show Pressing, adding that Putin is not interested in “the small Bosnian entity of Republika Srpska, but rather in destabilizing the EU to negotiate better terms for himself.”