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

A report by Human Rights Watch last year said Russia was failing to prevent and prosecute homophobic violence.

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 the Ukrainian President and called for the country to give stronger support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-sexual community. Sir Elton also met with business leaders to call on them to not turn away LGBT employees.

'Accepting people regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation is today the measure of an open, tolerant and democratic society. I ask you to begin this dialogue… This is a moral imperative,' said Sir Elton.