Updated

In remarks following Russia's State Duma elections, Vladimir Putin said Moscow would not resume negotiations with Kyiv until Ukraine 'feels the effects' of Russian retaliatory strikes, accusing Ukraine of derailing a prospective return to talks by launching over 1,600 drones and striking polling stations on election day. He also claimed Ukrainian strikes on September 19-20 had damaged a school used as a polling station and the homes of election officials. Separately, Putin denied that Russia is preparing for war against Europe while simultaneously claiming that Russian speakers face rights violations in Baltic states such as Lithuania and Latvia. The mixed messaging came as Western officials expressed growing concern about Russian intentions toward NATO's eastern flank.