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

As part of her trip to Poland, Vice President Kamala Harris met with 7 people who fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine and some members of the U.S. embassy staff Thursday to discuss their experiences.

"I have invited in these very important people to join me for a conversation about their experiences, and also their thoughts about what we can do the United States and our allies in this region and around the world to support the many people that have been displaced through the necessity to flee Ukraine and the harm that it represents at this moment," Harris said to the group.

Harris thanked the group for meeting with her to share their experiences.

"The conversation we will have this afternoon will help inform me, the President of the United States, and the American people about what you have experienced, so that we can best support you and your family," Harris said to the group.

Before the press was ushered out, Harris sought to reassure the participants.

"We are here to support you and you are not alone. And I know there's so much about the experience that you've had that has made you feel alone. You are not alone," she pledged.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will travel to Russia on Friday for a meeting with his close ally and Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders will meet in Moscow where they "will discuss key issues concerning bilateral relations, the development of union cooperation and economic cooperation in conditions of sanctions pressure," according to the Pool of the First Man channel on Telegram, which is reportedly linked to Belarusian state media.

"The situation in the region and in Ukraine is on the agenda as well," the channel said.

Western Union announced Thursday that it is suspending its operations in Russia and close ally Belarus amid the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

The Denver-based money-transfer and payments company said in a statement that it "stands with the world in condemning the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine."

"All of us share the shock, disbelief, and sadness around this tragedy and humanitarian disaster," the company added. "Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine and to our colleagues, customers, agents, and partners who have been impacted."

Company leadership have engaged in extensive dialogue with a wide variety of stakeholders "in an earnest effort to arrive at the right decision regarding our services in Russia and Belarus," according to Western Union.

"We have thoroughly evaluated internal and external considerations, including the consequences for our valued teammates, partners, and customers," the company said. "Ultimately, in light of the ongoing tragic impact of Russia’s prolonged assault on Ukraine, we have arrived at the decision to suspend our operations in Russia and Belarus."

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

Vice President Kamala Harris announced Thursday that the U.S. will be giving $50 million in humanitarian assistance to the United Nations World Food Program.

Harris made the announcement during a joint press conference after she met with Poland's President Andrzej Duda.

USAID will deliver the funds to the WFP, which go toward providing emergency food aid, such as high-energy biscuits, to refugees and supporting the WFP's operations to get aid into Ukraine, according to a release from USAID.

Including the aid money announced Thursday, the U.S. has provided $107 million in humanitarian aid since Russia's war against Ukraine started, according to USAID.

In the press conference, Harris and Duda spoke about the unified partnership between the U.S. and Poland on the war in Ukraine.

"We will do everything together in partnership, in solidarity, to support what is necessary this very moment in terms of the humanitarian and security needs of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," Harris said.

Harris and Duda also condemned the Russian attack on a maternity hospital which killed 3 people and wounded 17, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We have been witnessing for weeks, and certainly just in the last 24 hours, atrocities of unimaginable proportions,” Harris said.

Duda went as far as saying if hospitals and residential buildings are bombed where there are no military installations, "this is an act of barbarity baring the features of a genocide."

“We cannot accept such military activities that bare the characteristics of genocide," Duda said.

Harris also announced that the U.S. has delivered Patriot missile systems to Poland, which it had promised earlier this week, and noted the recent deployment of 4,700 U.S. troops to Poland.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Conor Finnegan