Elton John wants to adopt a 14-month-old boy from the Ukraine, saying Saturday that the toddler has "stolen my heart" after meeting him at an orphanage.

The British singer-songwriter, visiting the Ukraine with his AIDS charity foundation, performed for children at the orphanage, some of whose parents had died of the disease.

Asked at a press conference later with his partner David Furnish, 42, whether they had ever considered adopting, John said he wanted to adopt 14-month-old Lev.

"David and I have always talked about adoption, David always wanted to adopt a child and I always said 'no' because I am 62 and I think because of the travelling I do and the life I have, maybe it wouldn't be fair for the child.

"But having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him," he said on Sky News.

"I don't know how we do that but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home.

"I've changed my mind today."

John said the recent death of his long-term keyboardist, Guy Babylon, had also helped change his mind.

"It broke my heart because he was such a genius and so young and has two wonderful children," he said.

"What better opportunity to replace someone I lost than to replace him with someone I can give a future to."

Ukraine has one of the fastest rising HIV rates in Europe.

Two years ago the iconic singer gave a free concert in the main square in Kiev attended by tens of thousands of people to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.

John has sold more than 250 million records worldwide, with 29 consecutive Top 40 Hits and 35 gold and 25 platinum albums.

Source: AFP