Sir Elton John has said he wants to sit down with Vladimir Putin over a cup of tea and discuss what he called Russia’s “prejudice” against gay people.

The singer was speaking in Ukraine after meeting President Petro Poroshenko to discuss that country’s policies on LGBT rights.

In an interview with the BBC, Sir Elton said that while he used to only reach out to people through his music, his methods had changed as he grew older and more “mature”.

The star first played Moscow in 1979 and said he “like[s] the Russians”, but described the government’s stance there on gay people as “ridiculous”.

Russia passed a law in 2013 banning “propaganda” or teaching that might “promote homosexual behaviour among minors”. Last year, Mr Putin himself said gay people were welcome to the Winter Olympics in Russia as long as they “leave kids alone”.

9 controversial Putin quotes Show all 9 1 /9 9 controversial Putin quotes 9 controversial Putin quotes 2004 “Anyone who doesn't regret the passing of the Soviet Union has no heart. Anyone who wants it restored has no brains.” Getty images 9 controversial Putin quotes December 2005 “There is no such thing as a former KGB man.” Getty images 9 controversial Putin quotes G8 Summit press conference 2008 “If you want to become an Islamic fundamentalist and be circumcised, come to Moscow. We are multiconfessional. We have very good specialists. I can recommend one for the operation. He'll make sure nothing grows back.” Getty images 9 controversial Putin quotes 2010 “Russia doesn't negotiate with terrorists. It destroys them.” After the Moscow Metro bomb Getty images 9 controversial Putin quotes September 2013 “They say that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Truth be told, we don’t love him because of that, but he was a great musician, and we all love his music. So what?” Interview with Associated Press Getty images 9 controversial Putin quotes March 2014 “The West’s leaders seem, from what they say, entirely to have forgotten that there are some leaders in the world who want to conquer other countries.” Getty images 9 controversial Putin quotes 2014 Amazingly elaborate metaphor regarding the West and Russia “[Sometimes I think] our bear should probably just sit quietly and just eat honey instead of hunting animals, maybe then they will leave the bear in peace, but, no, they will not. What they are trying to do is chain the bear, and when they chain the bear they will take out his fangs and claws. This is how nuclear deterrence is working at the moment. If they take out the bear’s fangs and claws, then the bear will not be able to do anything. It will just be a stuffed animal.” Russian President’s annual press conference Getty images 9 controversial Putin quotes 2014 After Ksenia Sobchack, a well-known anti-Kremlin activist and journalist, was allowed to ask a question about Putin’s government suppressing opposing political viewpoints: “Why did you give her the floor?” Russian President’s annual press conference Getty images 9 controversial Putin quotes January 2014 “You can feel relaxed and calm [in Russia], but leave children alone, please.” Directed at gay people in January 2014, before the Sochi Winter Olympics Getty images

Sir Elton described such comments as “stupid”, and said he would like to sit down the Russian president to talk him round.

“I’d love to meet him,” he said. “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.”

Asked what he would say to Mr Putin, Sir Elton said: “I would tell him gay people are not the problem of the world. [I’d say] be accepting, let’s all pull together to solve the problems of the world – but don’t isolate and don’t be prejudiced against gay people.”

The star indicated on social media that his meeting with Ukraine’s president had been a success, and thanked Mr Poroshenko for his “support”.

He said on Instagram: “After speaking at the YES Ukraine 2015 Conference today in Kiev, I met with Ukraine President Poroshenko about the importance of legislative changes to support LGBT rights.

“Specifically, I asked him to: 1. Ban discrimination in the workplace based on sexuality and gender identity. 2. Provide criminal penalties for hate crimes.