Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at NATO defense ministers meeting seeking more support to fight Russia

By LORNE COOK and LOLITA BALDOR
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has joined a meeting of more than 50 defense leaders from around the world to make a personal pitch for military aid. Political support in the U.S. for the war has been lagging, and allies are under pressure to send weapons to bolster Israel in its war with Hamas. He said of Israel’s needs that “everybody’s afraid,” and  said he thinks “Russia’s counting on it, on dividing support.” His presence at the NATO meeting in Brussels underscores growing concerns about cracks in what has been staunch international backing for Kyiv in its war against Russia’s invasion, and worries that Ukrainian forces haven’t made measurable progress. The new Mideast war has complicated matters and has created competition for weapons and funding.