Biden, Zelenskyy praise each other over Ukraine war

WASHINGTON, July 12 (AP): President Joe Biden wants Ukraine to win the war against Russia. But he doesn't want World War III - especially with nuclear weapons.

Balancing those two goals has been difficult, and the tension was on particular display at the NATO summit in Vilnius this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an emotional, even caustic, demand for a clear path toward joining the alliance.

But Biden, who was to try to showcase NATO's strength in a sum-up speech Wednesday evening, was not willing to take that step, even as the United States continues to provide more weapons and ammunition than any other country to Ukraine.

The competing priorities in the midst of Europe's bloodiest war in generations created an undercurrent of friction even as Biden and Zelenskyy projected a united front during their meeting as the summit drew to a close. The public encounter had the vibe of two leaders clearing the air, and each conspicuously heaped praise on his counterpart.

Biden lauded Zelenskyy and Ukrainians for their courage by saying it's "been a model for the whole world to see." Zelenskyy thanked Biden and the American people for billions of dollars in military assistance, saying that "you spend this money for our lives