Elton John: I want to meet Putin over gay rights Published duration 12 September 2015

media caption Sir Elton admitted his wish to meet Mr Putin was "probably pie in the sky"

Sir Elton John says he wants to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss what he called the Russian president's "ridiculous" attitude to gay rights.

Speaking to the BBC, Sir Elton said he would welcome talks with Mr Putin even though "he may laugh behind my back... and call me an absolute idiot".

The musician is currently in Ukraine.

He met Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and called for the country to give stronger support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-sexual (LGBT) community.

Sir Elton also met with business leaders to call on them to not turn away LGBT employees.

image copyright EPA image caption Sir Elton John accused Mr Putin of saying "stupid things" about gay people

Ukraine's neighbour, Russia, passed a law in June 2013 that prosecuted private individuals promoting "homosexual behaviour among minors"

Sir Elton criticised the move, and comments Mr Putin made last year, indicating gay people targeted children

"Give me a break," Sir Elton said. "You are President of Russia, and you go and say stupid things like that?"

He said Mr Putin's attitude to gay people was "isolating and prejudiced" and "ridiculous".

"I would like to meet [Mr Putin]," Sir Elton told the BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Bridget Kendall.