Russia President & Elton John Won't Meet to Talk LGBT Rights

It looks like Russian President Vladimir Putin and pop icon Sir Elton John won't be meeting anytime soon to talk about gay rights, Reuters reports.

Citing scheduling problems, Putin will not be speaking with the singer, who is in Russia this month, the Kremlin said Thursday. Officials noted, however, the men can talk at a later date.

Back in September, Putin spoke to John on the phone to say he was ready to talk with him about LGBT rights in Russia. In 2013, Putin signed the controversial "homosexual propaganda" measure into law, sparking worldwide outrage.

"We were in correspondence with him (Elton John) a couple of weeks ago, because there had been an agreement that, if their schedules allow, this meeting would take place. President Putin expressed readiness for this meeting. But this time, the meeting won't take place, unfortunately," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with journalists, Reuters reports. "Their schedules do not match up. But this does not mean that such a meeting won't take place next time."

John is set to perform in Moscow on May 30 as part of his world tour.