Vladimir Putin Finally Gives Elton John a Ring

It looks like Vladimir Putin finally gave Elton John a call to apologize. It may not be the apology we deserve, but it's a start.

Last week, the legendary rock 'n' roll star and activist announced that he'd had a phone conversation with the Russian president. That call turned out to be a prank orchestrated by two satirists, Vladimir Krasnov and Alexey Stolyarov, posing as Putin and his interpreter.

But Putin apparently reached out to the singer this week. According to the New York Times, the president's spokesperson, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters Thursday:

"Putin spoke with Elton John... Putin called and said: 'I know that you were pranked by the telephone guys. Don't be upset with them. They're harmless. Although that, without doubt, does not justify them'... Putin said that he knows what a popular performer Elton John is, and in the future, if their schedules coincide, he will be ready to meet with him and discuss any questions that are of interest."

Elton John has expressed an interest in meeting with Putin in person. He wants to discuss the state of LGBT rights in Russia. Let's hope that it happens soon.