Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says 'certain positive movements' in negotiations

More than 700,000 Ukrainian refugees have crossed the border into Poland, President Andrzej Duda told reporters Friday.

When asked whether he was concerned the conflict in Ukraine will spill into Poland, Duda said, "We are a NATO member, I believe in NATO. NATO is the strongest alliance in the world. Much stronger than Russia and any other aggressor in the world."

"We cooperate with our allies. Americans are not far from here on our land," Duda said.

Duda told reporters that Poland will welcome refugees with open hearts. He said they're doing everything in their power to expedite the entry process into Poland, no matter what passport they have.

He said some without documents have been allowed into the country.
Duda had just finished touring a border crossing facility in Korczowa where he met with refugees who walked across the border in groups of at least 50 people at a time.

-ABC News' Christopher Donato and Marcus Moore

Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday addressed the sanctions imposed by the West, saying his country will "benefit" in the end.

"Of course it will cause damage to us as well," Putin said during an appearance on a Russian news channel. "We will simply have to postpone some projects a little, acquire additional expertise, just as we did it in a whole range of other projects, including in aviation."

"But in any case we will cope with these tasks before us and will even benefit from this situation in the end, because we will acquire additional expertise," Putin said.

Putin also spoke about Ukraine: "We have absolutely no ill intentions with regard to our neighbors."

He added, "I would advise them against escalating tensions and imposing any restrictions. We are honoring all our obligations, and we will continue to do so."

More than 1.2 million people have been forced to flee Ukraine since Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24, according to the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Over 50% of the refugees from Ukraine are in neighboring Poland, UNHCR figures show.

UNHCR spokesperson Chris Melzer said the refugee flow from Ukraine into Poland appears to be slowing down, for now.

"The flow of people is lessening," Melzer told ABC News on Friday. "The lines are much shorter."

Melzer, who is currently at Budomierz on the Polish border, has been hearing reports of similar scenes at other crossings. But he cautioned that this doesn't mean the situation is over.

"The process has been streamlined and less people seem to be coming," he said. "Here, there are about two-hour waits for cars and pedestrians are passing through freely."

-ABC News' Zoe Magee

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian forces of planning to stage "a fake rally in support of Russia" in the strategic port city of Kherson.

In a televised address Friday morning, Zelenskyy claimed that Russian troops were busing in "outsiders" from Moscow-annexed Crimea and "trying to recruit traitors from among the locals" to demand that Kherson be a Russian city.

"I appeal to the residents of Kherson: You can stop that, show them that Kherson is your city," Zelenskyy said. "We will not let go of what is ours."

"Show them our flags, sing our anthem, show your spirit, let them know that they can only stay in Kherson temporarily and would never be able to claim ownership of Kherson or any other city of our country," he added.

Russian forces took control of Kherson in southern Ukraine on Wednesday night. The Ukrainian government said earlier Friday that Russian troops have taken over Kherson's television tower and are broadcasting Russian channels, suggesting that Moscow may be planning to permanently occupy the city.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell