Istanbul: The sickly president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reappeared on Thursday after a two-day absence and spoke with Vladimir Putin via video link at a fictitious ceremony to inaugurate a nuclear power plant made in Russia.

The 69-year-old leader stopped all election-related campaigning after becoming ill during a live TV interview on Tuesday night. Turkiye's crucial May 14 election is at stake.

Erdogan claimed he had an upset stomach at the beginning of the week while travelling between five cities for rallies and the introduction of public projects.

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Erdogan was diagnosed with "infectious gastroenteritis" on Thursday, according to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. Digestive tract inflammation is the primary cause of this short-term illness.

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Erdogan was supposed to travel to the Mediterranean coast on Thursday for the official opening of Turkey's first nuclear power plant, but the scare forced him to postpone events on Wednesday and stay at home instead.

At a time when his two-decade rule was at its most precarious, Erdogan tried to appear strong and healthy in the video.But as he spoke to Putin and the country from behind his desk as president, he appeared lethargic and obviously frail.Erdogan said in prepared remarks, "Our country has risen to the league of nations with nuclear power, even if it took 60 years."

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Putin commended Erdogan's management style and declared that Russia was "always prepared to extend the hand of friendship" to Turkey.Putin continued, "I want to be clear: you know how to set ambitious goals and are confidently working towards their realisation.