Russia-Ukraine updates: US sanctions Russian military shipbuilder, diamond miner

President Joe Biden spoke to members of the 82nd Airborne Division in Jasionka, Poland, Friday, telling them, "What you're doing is consequential -- really consequential."

"What’s at stake" is beyond Ukraine, Biden said.

"What are your kids and grandkids gonna look like in terms of their freedom?" Biden said. "The last 10 years there have been fewer democracies that have been formed than we've lost in the world."

"What you’re engaged in is much more than just whether or not you can alleviate the pain and suffering of the people of Ukraine," Biden said.

Biden commended the troops, saying "the rest of the world looks to us, because, you know, we not only lead by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. And your generation combines both. The rest of the world looks at you and sees who you are. They see you are a multiethnic group of Americans that are in fact together and united in one resolve, to defend your country, and to help those who need help."

In Jasionka, Poland, on Friday, President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited American troops, thanking them for working alongside Polish allies.

Biden and Austin first greeted members of the 82nd Airborne Division in a makeshift barbershop.

Biden and Austin then stopped by a mess hall and ended up staying for a slice of pizza.

Biden also shared a story about searching for his son, Beau, in a mess hall in Baghdad, only to find him using his mother's maiden name -- Hunter -- on his fatigues.

"I said, 'Beau, what the hell’s going on?' His name was Beau Biden, and he was a colonel, I mean, a major, excuse me," Biden said.

"And I said, 'What happened?' And he said, 'Dad, with the name Biden, everybody thinks something’s going on. So I’m Hunter.' That was his mother’s maiden name," Biden said.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Ukrainian troops have been able to retake towns and defensive positions up to 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) east of Kyiv due to counter-attacks and Russian forces falling back on overextended supply lines, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said Friday in an intelligence update on the situation.

Ukrainian troops are likely to continue to attempt to push Russian forces back along the northwestern axis from the Ukrainian capital toward Antonov Airport in Hostomel, a suburb of Kyiv, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defense.

In southern Ukraine, Russian forces are still attempting to circumvent the densely populated city of Mykolaiv as they look to drive west toward Odesa, with their progress being slowed by logistic issues and Ukrainian resistance, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said.

U.S. President Joe Biden arrived at Poland's Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport Friday afternoon, where he will get a firsthand look at the international efforts to help some of the millions of people fleeing Ukraine.

Biden was greeted on the tarmac by four U.S. commanding generals. While in Rzeszow on Friday, Biden will receive a briefing on the humanitarian situation and meet with humanitarian aid groups as well as service members of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

He will later travel to Warsaw, where he will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda as well as refugees from Ukraine on Saturday.