Poland has arrested a Spanish national of Russian origin on suspicion of participating in foreign intelligence activities, the Internal Security Agency (ABW) said on Friday.

Poland's Ambassador to the United States said in an interview for Fakty TVN correspondent Marcin Wrona that "the Americans are doing all they can at the moment for the Ukrainians, so that they could be successful in the heroic defence of their country". In his opinion, it's quite paradoxical that "Putin has achieved what we haven't been able to achieve for many years". Asked if permanent U.S. military presence in Poland was possible, he explained that it would not depend on Poland only. "But I think that's the direction it's all heading," he added.

As a gesture of solidarity with Ukrainians fighting for their country, in Poland's major cities at noon, daily trumpted calls were substituted with the national anthem of Ukraine. The sound of the anthem could be heard from the clock tower of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, and from St. Mary's Church at Kraków's Main Square.

Poland aims to spend 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence in 2023, the leader of Poland's ruling PiS party Jarosław Kaczyński said at the start of a debate in parliament on Thursday around a bill to boost defence spending.

Polish Border Guard cleared 95,000 refugees from Ukraine on Wednesday, and already 27,000 by Thursday morning. The traffic at all crossings was flowing without major problems and delays. According to refugees who have already crossed, the waiting time at the border station in Medyka is 20 minutes.

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski on Wednesday praised Polish people for helping Ukrainians fleeing war. "We are impressed with how the Polish people are stepping up. Poles are showing the world what hospitality means, what gościnność means," he said. "As a Polish-American, I'm proud of them, I'm thankful of them," he added. After meeting with Sejm Speaker Elżbieta Witek, he reassured that "Poland is safe and secure".

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday (March 2) that sanctions against Russia must be as far-reaching as possible in order to stop the Russian war machine.

President Andrzej Duda informed on Wednesday he has decided to veto an amendment to law on education, known as lex Czarnek, and sent it back to parliament for reconsideration. "I'm not saying I had no reservations with regard to this bill. I had, but it also included a number of solutions I supported and thought they should be introduced. But let's put this aside for now," he explained.

Days after visiting the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to film scenes for his documentary on Russia's invasion, Hollywood actor-director Sean Penn found himself among thousands of refugees fleeing to Poland, joining the exodus on foot.

Pope Francis on Wednesday asked people around the world to remember Ukrainians in underground shelters seeking protection from bombardments and thanked Poland for taking in the bulk of refugees from the war.

Ukrainian diplomats were leaving embassy in Moscow on Wednesday (March 2), as the facility has been shut down. Polish Ambassador Krzysztof Krajewski visited his Ukrainian colleagues to show solidarity and support.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is an existential threat to peace in Europe, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday, after meeting with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. He also declared Poland's readiness to immediately introduce an embargo on Russian coal.

Poland's largest retailer Biedronka will stop selling products manufactured by companies registered in Russia and Belarus from Tuesday, joining a growing number of Polish companies in protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned about the growing humanitarian crisis due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday (March 1), saying refugee numbers could run into millions as people flee their homes. “"Putin is prepared to use barbaric and indiscriminate tactics against innocent civilians, to bomb tower blocks, to send missiles into tower blocks, to kill children, as we're seeing in increasing numbers," he stressed. Johnson met in Warsaw with his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, who said at a press conference that the main goal of Poland's humanitarian efforts was preventing further bloodshed.

During his visit to Poland on Tuesday, NATO's Chief Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to end the war in Ukraine and withdraw all its forces, adding the alliance would not send troops or combat jets to support Kyiv as it does not want to become part of the conflict. Stoltenberg met with Poland's President Andrzej Duda in Łask Air Base. "Our whole community must keep united, and we must stand together with Ukraine," Duda said.

"The nationals of all countries who suffered from Russian aggression, or whose life is at risk, can seek shelter in my country," Poland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Krzysztof Szczerski said on Monday in his speech before the General Assembly.

Poland will support Ukraine's accession process to the European Union, the Polish foreign minister said on Monday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday said he had signed an official request for Ukraine to join the bloc.

Activists from Przemyśl in Podkarpackie Voivodeship, who have been providing material support to refugees from Ukraine at the border crossing in Medyka, met a family there with 11 children. "They told us they wanted to thank us for helping and that they had a surprise for us. A boy, aged 12 or so at a glance, stood on the side, picked up his saxophone and started to play. They only had a few bags with them and the saxophone, which the boy carried on his back," a city councillor from Przemyśl said.

After Ukraine has been attacked by Russia, the Western countries have been supporting Kiev by sending weapons. One European leader, however, decided not to help Ukraine this way - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "We find this attitude surprising, but it is Hungary's business and its national interest," said Deputy Speaker of the Sejm and chief of PiS parliamentary club Ryszard Terlecki.

Since Russia attacked Ukraine, Polish and international organisations have been collecting funds to support Ukraine and its citizens. Below you will find a list of established and verified fundraisers which you can support.

Refugees from Ukraine have been stepping off trains at Przemyśl railway station. TVN24 reporter spoke to a number of people who arrived in a train from Odessa. A reception point for migrants from Ukraine has been opened at the station in Przemyśl.

"In this war everything is real: Putin’s madness and cruelty, Ukrainian victims, bombs falling on Kyiv," Poland's former PM and current opposition leader Dondal Tusk said in a tweet on Friday. He also added: "Those EU government’s, which blocked tough decisions (i.a. Germany, Hungary, Italy) have disgraced themselves", and called their sanctions "pretended".

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski on Friday met with Polish and American soldiers stationed in Podkarpacie region bordering Ukraine. "The United States and Poland stand shoulder to shoulder in this difficult time," he assured in a tweet. In an attached video, Brzezinski also said that "Poland is safe". "We are here to help," he told TVN24 reporter later on.

Poland will ban Russian airlines from its airspace from midnight on Friday, the government said a day after Russia attacked Ukraine.

Warsaw City Hall sets up information points for Ukrainian refugees that will operate at railway stations and at the Palace of Culture in Science in the centre of the city. Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski also informed that a special hotline has been also launched.

Poland is preparing a medical train to transport Ukrainians wounded in Russia's assault on its neighbour, the country's health ministry said, adding that Polish hospitals were ready to receive thousands of patients.

"The Sejm strongly condemns Russian aggression and calls for withdrawal of this country's forces from Ukraine", Poland's lower house of pariament stressed in a declaration adopted by acclamation on Thursday. "The Russian Federation is excluding itself from the international community, we are returning to the darkest times of the 20th century," the deputies underscored.

Crowds have been gathering since the morning in front of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw to protest against Russia's invasion into Ukraine. Among the protesters there are Poles, Ukrainians, and even Russians who do not identify with Vladimir Putin's policy. Some of them are holding banners saying "not in my name". Traffic at Belwederska Street has been blocked.

Polish president Andrzej Duda condemned Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine on Thursday (February 24), asking for Moscow to cease its operations in Ukraine. "I’m asking Russian citizens not to support their authorities in what they do," he underscored.

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski told TVN24 on Thursday that his country stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Poland in ensuring its safety as a NATO member state, amid the Russian attack on Ukraine. "This attack is premeditated, it's unprovoked, and it's unjustified," Brzezinski stressed, adding that "what has happened is absolutely wrong and Russia, and Putin, need to be isolated". Watch the full interview with Ambassador Mark Brzezinski.