Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 70th birthday on Friday. An ally in Belarus gave him a tractor; another in Tajikistan sent over a mountain of melons. But the reality he faces, on and off the battlefield in Ukraine, is less than sweet.

Putin spent the day hosting a summit of leaders of ex-Soviet states in St. Petersburg. He is trying to bring them closer together and to focus on security issues.

Putin said, "Apart from Ukraine, where tragic events are happening, conflicts often occur between other countries in the post-Soviet territories."

Ukraine's allies in the West sent their own birthday message -- that they stand for the freedom of the Russian people. They voted at the UN Human Rights Council to send a monitor to Russia, citing a "climate of fear." It is the first time for the group to investigate a permanent member of the Security Council. Russian delegates say the decision is "politicized."

Putin's forces in Ukraine delivered some bad birthday news. They have been pushed back on the battlefield and are abandoning weapons as they retreat. Analysts at Britain's defense ministry say Russian tanks and other armored vehicles now make up a large portion of Ukraine's military hardware.