He met with the representative of the Turkish president, Ibrahim Kalin Vladimir Putin as Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Thursday.

According to TASS, Dmitry Peskov clarified that the meeting “examined the implementation of large projects on the (joint) agenda of the two countries, including the (nuclear plant) Akuyo”.

“There has indeed been such a meeting,” Putin’s spokesman said, commenting on reports of the meeting to discuss bilateral cooperation on the nuclear plant.

“The two sides discussed the need to hold a (nuclear fuel) handover ceremony to mark the occasion. As we have said before, Russia will play its proper role in the ceremony,” the Kremlin spokesman added.

Kalin reported on Wednesday that he met with President Putin in Moscow. According to him, he was carrying messages from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Putin and their conversation was about Ukraine and the upcoming fuel delivery ceremony at the Akuyu facility. Kalin also stated that the Russian leader had in turn “conveyed messages to Erdogan”.

The Russian president may visit Turkey on the occasion of the opening of the nuclear power plant in Akuyu (April 27), the Turkish president has also stated Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Mr. Putin may come to Turkey for the inauguration ceremony. Otherwise, he may participate online in it,” the Turkish president said in an interview on Wednesday night with A Haber and ATV television networks.

Erdogan argued that the nuclear power plant in Akuyu is a vital investment for Turkey, since it will upgrade the country’s energy network.

According to the schedule, the first reactor at Akougiou will be commissioned this year and the project is not expected to be completed before 2025.

The construction of the first nuclear power plant in Turkey was agreed in 2010 with a subsidiary of the Russian state company Rosatom. The nuclear plant in the province of Mersin, on Turkey’s southern coast, will have four reactors with a total capacity of 4.8 GW.