Elton John says he'll meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin to speak about the country's "isolating and prejudiced" treatment of LGBT people. In 2013 Russia passed a law making it legal to prosecute those promoting "homosexual behaviour among minors."
"I would like to meet [Mr Putin]," John said during a conference in Ukraine. "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."
Elton noted that previously he'd had positive talks with Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko.
"We need Ukrainian businessmen and power brokers to create a more inclusive and tolerant society. We need this everywhere!"
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April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.