Did Vladimir Putin PHONE Elton John to discuss gay rights? Singer claims Russian president personally called him – and the duo are now due to meet face-to-face

• Sir Elton John last week said he'd like to meet President Vladimir Putin
• Pop star says Putin has called him and agreed to meet him in person
• Sir Elton previously said Russia has a 'ridiculous' stance on gay rights
• Country passed law banning gay 'propaganda' among children in 2013

Sir Elton John has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for calling him and agreeing to meet face-to-face to discuss gay rights.

Sir Elton last week announced he wanted to meet Putin to discuss Russia's 'ridiculous' stance on gay rights.

And in an Instagram post which included a close-up of the president's face, the pop star wrote yesterday: '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 John (right) has thanked Vladimir Putin (left) for calling him and agreeing to meet face-to-face

Sir Elton has accused Putin of saying

'stupid things', such as when he warned gay people travelling to the Winter Olympics to 'leave the children in peace'. 

Russia passed a law banning homosexual 'propaganda' among children in June 2013, sparking an international outcry.

The country has also banned same-sex marriage and opposes support for equal rights for homosexuals.

Sir Elton said Mr Putin's attitude to gay people was 'isolating and prejudiced' and 'ridiculous'.

Speaking to the BBC, he added: 'I would like to meet (Mr Putin). It's probably pie in the sky ... He may laugh behind my back when he shuts the door and call me an absolute idiot, but at least I can think I have the conscience to say I tried.'

Sir Elton made the remarks after speaking at a conference in neighbouring Ukraine, where he lobbied president Petro Poroshenko over gay rights on Saturday.

Sir Elton John announced on Instagram that Putin had called him personally and had agreed to meet

In Ukraine, Sir Elton urged the country to stop repressing its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Speaking to delegates at the annual Yalta European Strategy forum in Kiev, the singer-songwriter said Ukraine had a moral duty to become more tolerant and inclusive.

His comments came after 10 people were injured at Kiev's Gay Pride march in a confrontation between police and ultra-nationalist demonstrators, who came to break up the event.

Sir Elton said: 'I tell you with great sadness that right here, in this very city earlier this summer, a simple and modest gay pride parade had to be organised at a secret location to try and prevent hooligans disrupting it and committing violence against the celebrants.

'The march lasted, in all, 10 minutes, the fighting lasted over an hour… So I tell you soberly, we have a long way to go.'

The musician has been outspoken on the issue of gay rights. Earlier this year, he temporarily boycotted Dolce and Gabbana after the fashion designers called children conceived by IVF 'synthetic'.

He has two sons, Zachary, four, and Elijah, two, with his husband, David Furnish.

Sir Elton, who has two sons with husband David Furnish (left), has been outspoken on the issue of gay rights