Sir Elton: I'll try to influence Putin's gay rights attitude

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

Speaking to the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall, 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 and met with the country's president and business leaders to urge them to better support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.