President Erdogan Positive COVID-19 While Busy Mediating Russia-Ukraine Conflict: NATO Says Thank You, President Putin Sends Prayers

JAKARTA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, amid efforts to build a communication bridge to mediate the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in the border region, receiving attention from NATO and the Russian President.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his contribution to finding a political solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis and his personal efforts.

In a message he posted on Twitter, Stoltenberg said they were discussing Russian development in and around Ukraine.

"I thank him for his active support and personal involvement to find a political solution, and welcome Turkey's strong practical support to Ukraine," he quoted Daily Sabah as saying.

Stoltenberg goes on to note that the block remains ready to find a solution through dialogue. The latest statement issued by Ankara also underscores the phone call between the two leaders.

According to the statement, Presidents Erdogan and Stoltenberg discussed regional developments, in particular the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Underlining Turkey's efforts to end the crisis, President Erdogan said that Ankara had acted on logic to calm existing tensions.

Expressing he shares his opinion with all his colleagues, the crisis will be ended in a peaceful and diplomatic manner within the framework of the Minsk Agreement based on Ukraine's territorial integrity and international law.

President Erdogan said he shared with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on several occasions that Turkey would be happy to host summits at the leadership level or talks at the technical level.

Speaking to reporters on his way back from Ukraine where he met Ukrainian President Zelensky last week, President Erdogan said Western countries cannot contribute to a solution to Ukraine-Russia tensions and no European leader is suitable to resolve them.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin wishes President Erdogan and his wife a speedy recovery from coronavirus infection, according to a telegram posted on the Kremlin's website.

"Dear Mr. President, my dear friend, I would like to sincerely support you and your wife. I am sure that your strength and vitality will help you overcome the virus as soon as possible. I sincerely wish you both a full recovery and good health for many years to come," the post read, quoting TASS.

President Erdogan said on Saturday he and his wife had contracted the coronavirus infection. On Sunday, he said he was continuing to work remotely because medics said he had a mild illness.

To note, Russia has denied plans to invade Ukraine amid concerns by many Western countries over a buildup of more than 100,000 troops near the border, but has demanded security guarantees from the West and said it could take unspecified military action if its demands were not met.

Ankara has previously offered to help ease the impasse and Turkish diplomatic sources say both Russia and Ukraine are open to the idea. Turkey has defied sanctions threatened by other NATO members in response to a military offensive by Russia.