Vladimir Putin agrees to meet with Elton John to discuss LGBT rights

Russian President Vladimir Putin has allegedly responded to Sir Elton John’s offer to meet with him to discuss LGBT rights.

The legendary singer posted on his Instagram page to inform fans that Mr Putin had telephoned him.

“Thank-you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and speaking via telephone with me today. I look to forward to meeting with you face-to-face to discuss LGBT equality in Russia,” Sir Elton posted, along with a picture of Mr Putin.

He expressed his wish to meet with the Russian President after speaking in Ukraine at the YES Ukraine 2015 conference on LGBT rights on 12 September, where he lobbied Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the issue.

“I’d love to meet him [President Putin],” he told the BBC, “It’s probably pie in the sky, but I’d love to meet him and say, ‘Come on, let’s have a cup of tea, let’s talk about this.’ He may laugh behind my back when he shuts the door, and call me an absolute idiot, but at least I can have a conscience, to say I tried.”

Mr Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov has denied that the Russian Presdient telephoned Sir Elton.

“Putin did not have a conversation with Elton John, and, most importantly, we did not get any offer of a meeting from him. [...] Unfortunately, we do not know if the post and [Instagram] account are authentic,” Mr Peskov said.