Elton John admits that he’s trying to schedule a date to meet ‘sincere’ Vladimir Putin

Elton John has admitted that he’s in the process of trying to find a date to visit Vladimir Putin.

The legendary musician has described the Russian President as ‘sincere’ and ‘affable’ after speaking with him on the phone to arrange a meeting to discuss LGBT rights.

John, who was duped into thinking that he had spoken with the leader by pranksters, later received a genuine call from Putin.

Speaking on Radio 4, he said: “We're trying to figure out a date. He rang me a few weeks ago.”

“He was very affable, he was very apologetic, he was very sincere, and so as soon as I can get a date in my diary that coincides with him I will be going.”

While the 68-year-old admitted that he wasn’t expecting to make any changes, he wanted to ‘open up a dialogue’ about gay rights issues.

He said: “I will go to Moscow and I will meet him. Whether or not I make any progress, I don't know, unless I try, unless I put my point forward.

"I'm not going to go straight in there and go 'come on, you've gotta do this, you've gotta do that'. This is the starting of a dialogue, and you don't get anywhere without dialogue.”

Speaking at the Attitude Awards last month, John’s husband David Furnish said:

“Putin is lovely. He and Elton spoke on the phone and the Kremlin have confirmed that.”

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “If in the future their schedules allow, he’s ready to meet with him and discuss any questions that interest him.”