Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and other prominent former global leaders in Moscow on April 29.

The visit of an influential group called The Elders comes at a time when Russia's relations with the West are severely strained over Moscow's seizure of Crimea and the deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Putin is meeting with the group because of worsening tensions, saying the group's discussions are mostly "conceptual" in nature.

"The current turbulent situation is just yet another excuse for holding such a meeting," he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who met with Carter and other members of the group on April 28, praised their "willingness to contribute to the solution of international problems."

The Elders,Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had a "warm and engaged conversation" with Queen Elizabeth during a private meeting in Edinburgh Wednesday.

In brief remarks outside the Queen's official Scottish residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Trudeau also said he offered the monarch one of the Canadian flags that flew above the Peace Tower on July 1, the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

"It was as it often is, as it always is, a warm and engaged conversation in which she displayed knowledge and interest on a wide range of global affairs and goings-on in Canada," Trudeau said. "It's always a pleasure to meet with her."

Trudeau did not take questions.

The PM speaks to reporters in Edinburgh after an Audience with the Queen 0:41

It was Trudeau's second private audience with the Queen since