Updated

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called British musician Elton John and agreed to meet with him after Russian pranksters called him, pretending to be Putin and his spokesman.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies on Thursday that Putin called John earlier in the day and "asked him not to feel offended" by the prank. Putin promised to meet John as long as the schedule permits and discuss "any issues that he is concerned about."

Earlier this month, John criticized Russia's law against gay "propaganda" and comments by Putin suggesting that gay people prey on children.

Two Russian pranksters last week said they fooled John into believing that the Russian president had given him a call with John posting a message on his Instagram, thanking Putin for calling him.