Off to a Vlad start

PM in India for talks... as its leader offers 'birthday greetings' to tyrant

- BY ASHLEY COWBURN

KEIR Starmer arrived in India for trade talks with its Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had to declare that he had not, unlike his host, sent Vladimir Putin birthday greetings.

As the Russian president turned 73, Mr Modi posted: “Spoke with my friend President Putin and conveyed warm birthday greetings and best wishes for his good health and long life.

“Deeply appreciate his personal commitment to deepening India-Russia ties over the years.”

But Mr Starmer said: “Just for the record, I haven't... sent birthday congratulations to Putin, nor am I going to. I don't suppose that comes as a surprise.”

DELEGATION