UPDATES: Ukraine Conflict Will Have to End With Diplomacy, Negotiations – State Dept.

The conflict in Ukraine will have to end with diplomacy and negotiations and President Volodymyr Zelensky knows it too, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in an interview.

“We know, just like President Zelensky knows, that this war will have to end with diplomacy, it will have to end with negotiations, and right now we are focused on strengthening our Ukrainian partners, so that when […] that negotiating table emerges, our Ukrainian partners have as strong a hand as possible,” Price said on Tuesday.

The spokesperson added that the Biden administration will announce sanctions on Russian individuals later in the day for their alleged roles in the conflict against Ukraine.

The United States will impose sanctions on 200 Russian individuals and entities this week, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday citing a person familiar with the matter.

The report said the sanctions will target Russian governors and family members of Russian government officials, Russian technology firms, alleged sanctions evasion networks, and entities critical to Russia's defense industry.

The West aims to cut Russia's access to critical materials needed for its defense and technology sectors, the report said.

The United States is expected to roll out its new package of sanctions in coordination with EU allies this week.

"What's new in this? You know, the performance is on. And so it continues. Everything works in this vein, from the point of view of our former Western colleagues, and from the point of view of saving the Nazi regime. Such attempts are futile," Lavrov told reporters, when asked to comment on Biden's visit to Kiev and the new military aid package for Ukraine.

Earlier in the week, Italian press reported, citing sources, that Rome might provide up to five fighter jets, but only after similar steps by its European allies since it was not ready to take unilateral action.

The new security package includes additional ammunition for HIMARS, Javelin Systems, and about 200 anti-armor rockets, among others, the Pentagon said.

The top Estonian diplomat added that Tallinn was willing to provide Ukraine, at Kiev's request, with 1 million 155-millimeter caliber shells worth 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) through joint purchases.

According to a US newspaper, the US president told his advisers that he wanted to visit Ukraine in February in order to reassure his allies that Washington would continue to support Kiev. The unannounced visit had been planned and kept in secret for security reasons, the media noted.