Russia sets new Mariupol surrender deadline. ‘Battle for Donbas’ begins.

Russia demanded the surrender Tuesday of Ukraine’s remaining holdouts in the devastated southern port city of Mariupol, as local leaders said the steel plant where fighters and civilians are holing up was under attack. “All who lay down their arms are guaranteed the preservation of life,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said, giving Ukrainian forces until midday Moscow time to surrender. Control of Mariupol would give the Kremlin a key land corridor linking Russian-annexed Crimea to eastern Ukraine. Hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian troops “have begun the battle for Donbas" as part of its long-planned offensive in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced Tuesday the “next phase” of its military operation was underway and would seek the “complete liberation" of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The regional governor of Luhansk said Tuesday that Kreminna, in eastern Ukraine, is “under the control” of Russian forces, and that the Ukrainian forces who were fighting to defend it have taken up new positions. Russia’s assault is also coalescing around the neighboring Kharkiv region. The Pentagon warned that Russia appears to be learning from its failure to take Kyiv, attempting to improve its command and control as well as logistics. Zelensky said in his nightly video address that tough Western sanctions have made it daunting for Russia to replenish its weapons supplies, and the White House said it has not ruled out additional sanctions on Russia. President Biden is due to host a call Tuesday with U.S. allies to discuss the ongoing war. His administration said it has stepped up equipment deliveries to Ukraine, which are taking place at “unprecedented speed.”