Putin and Erdogan strengthen ties with inauguration of Turkish nuclear plant.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan virtually inaugurated Turkey's first nuclear power plant, built by Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom. The $20 billion, 4,800 MW project at Akkuyu entails the construction of four reactors that will allow Turkey to join the small club of nations with civil nuclear energy. Putin described Akkuyu as "the largest nuclear construction project in the world" and noted that it would mean Turkey having to import less Russian natural gas in the future. Erdogan thanked Putin for his support on Akkuyu, adding: "We will take steps to build a second and a third nuclear power plant in Turkey as soon as possible."