Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters Saturday that while the current Ukraine leadership is in power, “the war will continue.” 

Speaking to reporters earlier Saturday at the end of the summit, Putin called last Sunday’s incident on the Kerch Strait a “provocation.” 

Putin went on to say the acting leadership of Ukraine is not interested in settling the current situation by “peaceful means” and this has been shown with the recent “provocation in the Black sea and in the Donbass.” 

Putin also spoke on how martial law in Ukraine had has divided the country “with its own hands.”