More U.S. troops deployed to Europe; Blinken calls Putin rhetoric on nuclear arms 'dangerous'

At this point, it would be very hard for Russia to install a pro-Moscow puppet government in Ukraine, according to Chris Miller, assistant professor of international history at Tufts University.

Even if the Kremlin succeeds in taking capital city Kyiv and toppling President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "how are they going to construct an effective government to replace him? It seems very difficult to imagine they can do so," Miller told CNBC's "Streets Signs Asia" on Thursday.

Miller said while Putin could install someone new in Zelenskyy's place, it would be extraordinarily "hard to actually keep them in power."

"One of the things that the invasion has brought forth is that almost all Ukrainians don't want to be ruled by Russia or a Russian puppet," he said.

"The last couple of Russian wars had very limited aims. They were trying to achieve limited political goals, not regime change on their border," Miller noted. "This time the goals are far grander and as a result, the resources simply aren't there."

— Sumathi Bala

Russian prisoners of war, officers of the police (L-R) sergeant Yevgeniy Plotnikov, lieutenant colonel Dmitriy Astakhov, and captain Yevgeniy Spiridonov as they are presented to the press in Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on March 2, 2022.

Russian security forces take anti-war protesters into custody in Moscow, Russia.

Ukraine's second biggest city, Kharkiv, suffered heavy bombardment on Wednesday as Russia's week-long invasion was denounced by the United Nations in a historic vote and dozens of countries referred Moscow to be probed for potential war crimes.

The biggest attack on a European state since 1945 has caused over 870,000 people to flee, led to a barrage of economic measures against Russia, and stoked fears of wider conflict in the West unthought-of for decades.

West of Kyiv, in the city of Zhytomyr, four people, including a child, were killed on Tuesday by a Russian cruise missile, a Ukrainian official said.

Rocket strikes on the centre of Kharkiv killed at least 10 people and wounded 35, Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko said. Similar strikes that killed and wounded dozens in the city the previous day involved cluster bombs, experts said. 

— Reuters

The U.S. House has overwhelmingly approved a resolution "steadfastly, staunchly, proudly and fervently" in support of Ukraine.

Lawmakers said history was watching the way the world responds as Ukrainians fight to save their Western-style democracy from invasion by Russia. With intensifying urgency, many in Congress said more must be done to help Ukraine and cut off Russian President Vladimir Putin's ability to wage war.

In the Senate, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was also introducing a resolution that would back Ukraine's claim in international court that Putin and his "cronies" have committed war crimes.

— Associated Press

Civilians took refuge in an underground metro station used as bomb shelter in Kyiv as Russian forces shell the city.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to raise his nation's nuclear posture.

"Provocative rhetoric about nuclear weapons is the height of irresponsibility," Blinken told reporters at the State Department. "It's dangerous and it adds to the risk of miscalculation," the nation's top diplomat said, adding that the U.S. has not taken steps to alter its own nuclear posture.

Over the weekend, Putin placed his nation's nuclear forces on high alert amid tensions with the West over the invasion of Ukraine.

The United States and Russia own the lion's share of the world's combined nuclear weapons inventory.

– Amanda Macias

Russia has been barred from participating in a major airshow in England, organizers said.

"Following the on-going events taking place in Eastern Europe, we have made the decision to suspend Russian participation at the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow, taking place in July," Farnborough International Airshow organizers said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine, and everyone affected by the current situation. We continue to hope for a timely and peaceful resolution."

Russia has grown increasingly isolated from global aerospace manufacturers and suppliers like Boeing, Airbus and General Electric amid new sanctions. Russia's access to the world's airspace has narrowed as countries shun the Russian planes response to its invasion of Ukraine last week.

– Leslie Josephs