AKIPRESS.COM - Russian President Vladimir Putin has called British singer Elton John Thursday and suggested they hold a personal meeting to discuss current issues, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Two famous Russian pranksters claimed earlier this month to have made a prank call to Sir Elton John in which they pretended to be Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sputnik international news agency reported.

Later, prankster Alexei Stolyarov apologized to the Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov for impersonating him and talking to the British singer on behalf of the press secretary of the Russian president.

The Russian leader asked Elton John not to take offense at the prank call, the Kremlin spokesperson added.

"Putin called and said: I know you were called by pranksters, don't get offended by those guys, they are harmless, though this certainly does not justify their actions," Peskov told reporters.

"And Putin said he knew what a popular artist Elton John is, and if their schedules allow it, he is ready to meet and discuss any questions that interest him," the spokesman added.

Following the prank call, Sir Elton posted a message on Instagram thanking the Russian president for ‘reaching out’ to him during the call and said he looked forward to a face-to-face meeting with him. However, after it became clear that the phone conversation with the Russian leader had been fake, the British singer said that he still wanted to meet with Putin and discuss LGBT rights.