Elton John won't be able to adopt a 14-month-old HIV-positive child because Ukrainian law says he's too old and isn't married to the right person ... a woman.

John, 62, married longtime partner David Furnish in 2005 in one of Britain's first civil unions, but the Ukraine doesn't recognize civil unions as marriages.

John's desire to adopt was a little sudden -- he only met the toddler, named Lev, while visiting an orphanage over the weekend as part of his extensive anti-AIDS charitable work, the Associated Press reports.

"I don't know how we do that, but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home," John said.

But the Ukrainian minister who oversees foreign adoptions says that prospective parents can't be older than 45 and must be married.