Polish athlete wins the North Pole Marathon

The US is moving to bolster Poland's defense capabilities amid the rising threat of war between neighboring Ukraine and Russia. Defense Secretary Austin said the conflict could lead to a flood of refugees.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been fleeing Ukraine for Poland, many on packed trains arriving at the border city of Przemysl. Most of those arriving at the train station in the southeastern city are women and children, as well as some elderly people.

The front pages continue their focus on Vladimir Putin's bloody offensive in Ukraine. We also look at how Poland is enjoying positive publicity for a change and hoping to redeem itself in the eyes of the EU after years of strained ties. Finally, we see how supermarkets are calling for an iconic British dish – chicken Kiev – to be renamed chicken Kyiv in honour of its Ukrainian spelling.

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Friday.

Poland is warmly welcoming Ukrainians fleeing the war in sharp contrast to its treatment of previous waves of refugees from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. What explains the difference?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has praised Poland for its "vital work" in responding to a migration crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Poland is allowing millions of Ukrainians fleeing the war access to the labor market and to health and social benefits. Polish officials are struggling to register and help all the people arriving in the country.

Tensions between Poland and Russia have been running high since Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine last month.

The US president met American troops stationed in Poland, before being briefed on aid efforts for Ukrainian refugees. Warsaw is hoping for a bigger NATO commitment in the wake of Russia's invasion of its neighbor.

The war in Ukraine has moved Poland from the fringes of US foreign policy into the spotlight. At the same time, Washington has become even more indispensable for Warsaw as a guarantor of security.

Warsaw requested an explanation from the French ambassador over comments made by the French president. The French president strongly criticized Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in a newspaper interview.

The Polish capital has seized an abandoned Russian diplomatic compound after decades of legal dispute. Authorities say the site, which some Poles say was used for spying, will be handed over to the Ukrainian community.