Amid speculations about his health, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday briefly appeared in a video conference attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two leaders addressed a ceremony to mark the delivery of nuclear fuel to the first power unit at Turkey’s Akkuyu plant.
The 20-billion-dollar facility was built by Russia’s Rosatom in Mersin, southern Turkey.
The loading of the first fuel is the final step before Turkey starts nuclear power production, Erdogan said, calling the step a strategic investment to reduce the country’s energy dependency.
The plant is scheduled to be put into service gradually until 2028, to provide 10 per cent of Turkish electricity consumption, according to the pale-looking Turkish leader.
Putin lauded Erdogan’s role in realising what he called one of the largest joint Turkish-Russian projects.
Late on Tuesday, the 69-year-old Turkish president, had to interrupt a live TV interview due to a stomach upset.
Erdogan then cancelled election rallies for two days in a row.
The president is well and resting, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.
It was not immediately clear when Erdogan would resume his campaign for Turkey’s May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Putin and Erdogan also discussed the Ukraine war and the Black Sea grain deal in a phone call prior to yesterday’s ceremony, Erdogan’s office said.