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Putin calls Elton John, promises to meet with him

For real this time.
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Putin calls Elton John, promises to meet with him
In this Sunday, July 26, 2015 file pool photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, centre, reviews a Navy parade in Baltisk, western Russia, during celebration for Russian Navy Day. With dozens of Russian combat jets and helicopter gunships lined up at an air base in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for a big-time show at the United Nations General Assembly. Observers expect the Russian leader to call for stronger U.N.-sanctioned global action against the Islamic State group and possibly announce some military moves in his speech on Monday, Sept. 28, 2015.
In this Sunday, July 26, 2015 file pool photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, centre, reviews a Navy parade in Baltisk, western Russia, during celebration for Russian Navy Day. With dozens of Russian combat jets and helicopter gunships lined up at an air base in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for a big-time show at the United Nations General Assembly. Observers expect the Russian leader to call for stronger U.N.-sanctioned global action against the Islamic State group and possibly announce some military moves in his speech on Monday, Sept. 28, 2015. Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA-Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, file

MOSCOW — 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.

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