Lonely Vladimir Putin turns 72 as birthday cards trickle in

Maybe his gifts got lost in the mail?
Vladimir Putin celebrated his 72nd birthday Monday — but now that the Russian president is a global pariah fewer well wishes are coming in than before.
The birthday greetings for Putin, who has now outlived Russian male life expectancy by three years, are mainly arriving from allies in his war on Ukraine — plus one regional leader walking a tightrope between Moscow and the West.
Firm friend Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko gushed, “Your deep understanding of Russia’s historic mission, personal responsibility for the fate of the people and the Fatherland have become a reliable guarantee of strengthening its statehood and sovereignty,” in his birthday message.
Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, another key backer of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion, said, “Today, friends, is the birthday of our national leader, Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President of Russia Vladimir Putin!” in a congratulatory message on his social media.
“Undoubtedly, this is a significant day for our entire Fatherland,” Kadyrov added.
Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who has been trying to foster closer ties with the EU, said, “Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, please accept my sincere congratulations and best wishes on your birthday.”
Pashinyan added, “We believe that at this stage, the need for consistent activities aimed at strengthening the mutually beneficial cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation in all areas of mutual interest is of particular importance,” he said, adding: “I wish you, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, health, success and all the best.”
There was nothing public, as of POLITICO’s most recent inspection, from Putin’s other BFFs — North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, Chinese ruler Xi Jinping and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In 2022, Putin and Silvio Berlusconi exchanged birthday gifts, according to the late former Italian prime minister.
“For my birthday he sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a very sweet letter,” Berlusconi could be heard saying in an audio clip. “I replied with bottles of Lambrusco and an equally very sweet letter.”