Russia ready for peace talks with Ukraine, but on its conditions – ambassador

Russia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin
©Yuri Mikhailenko/TASS

Russia is ready for peace talks with Ukraine but it will not give up its conditions, Russian Ambassador to Great Britain Andrey Kelin said in an interview with the BBC on Sunday.

"We want peace, but on certain conditions, of course. For us, two things are important. That there will be no threat from Ukraine to Russia - this is one thing. And second, that Russians in Ukraine will be treated like all other nations in the world. Like French people are being treated in Belgium, or like Italians and Germans are being treated in Switzerland, not differently... That’s a grave violation of the Human Rights Declaration and of all documentation," Kelin said, as he described the developments in Ukraine in recent years as "extreme nationalism."

According to Kelin, Russia’s current military purpose is to liberate the Donbass from the occupation. He dismissed thinking that Ukraine may prevail as "a big idealistic mistake."

"We can make peace tomorrow, if the Ukrainian side is prepared to negotiate, but at the moment there are no preconditions for that, I am afraid, because the president of Ukraine has prohibited any negotiations," the Russian diplomat maintained, adding that he didn’t believe that simply freezing the conflict was a good idea. "It will not make a platform for a stable and long-term peace in Europe," Kelin explained.

The envoy reiterated the Russian nuclear doctrine does not envisage using nukes in the conflict in Ukraine. However, Kelin said that he was worried about a continued escalation of the conflict as he referred to weapons supplies to Kiev currently being ramped up.

West waging its war against Russia `on all fronts’ – Kremlin

Western countries are waging their war against Russia in all domains, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" TV show on Sunday.

"War is being waged in a broader sense. A war is being waged against us on all fronts, be it the economy, international relations, or in terms of ownership," he explained.

President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov
©Ilya Pitalev/POOL/TASS

Peskov urged Russia not to succumb to emotions and keep a sober mind in these circumstances. "We should remain focused and strong, and do... what best suits our interests, be tough but open to what could help us clearly communicate our concerns, and what we find unacceptable for ourselves, what will be fighting against," he maintained.

Reporter Pavel Zarubin posted an excerpt of the interview on his Telegram channel on Sunday.

Lavrov on F-16s for Kiev: Some in US-Led West Grasp This as Unacceptable Escalation

NATO allies recently pledged to deliver F-16 fighter jets to the Kiev regime, the latest addition to the list of lethal weapons the collective West has provided to Ukraine as it allegedly gears up for a major offensive against Russian forces.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the recent escalation over arms supplies to Kiev is unacceptable, and many people in the West comprehend this fact.

"Of course, this is an unacceptable escalation. I think there are still people in the West who understand this, but everything is dictated by Washington, London and their satellites who are in the European Union," Lavrov said in an interview, commenting on where the limit of escalation lies given the continuing arms deliveries to Kiev.

Earlier, the US-led military bloc pledged to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, the latest addition to the list of lethal weapons the West has provided to Ukraine as it gears up for a large-scale offensive against Russian forces. Yuri Sak, an adviser to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, said that Kiev hopes to receive the first F-16s from foreign donors in late September or early October.

During the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, US President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Washington, along with its partners, was going to launch a program to train Ukraine’s military pilots to operate fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16s.

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said the potential transfer of F-16 jets to Ukraine raises the question of NATO’s involvement in the conflict.

Moscow had earlier sent a note to NATO countries over arms supplies to the Kiev regime. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that NATO countries were "playing with fire" by supplying weapons to Ukraine.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that flooding Ukraine with weapons from the West would not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian talks and would have a negative effect. Lavrov said the US and NATO were directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine "not only by supplying weapons, but also by training personnel... on the territory of [Great] Britain, Germany, Italy and other countries".

Lavrov lauds US general’s remark on Ukraine as first step toward understanding reality

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said a US general who questioned Kiev’s objective of regaining all of its territory was the first step toward understanding how things stand on Earth today.

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley's doubts about Ukraine's ability to recapture the territory it has lost to Russia since February 2022 in near future is a step forward toward the West's understanding the reality on the ground, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday.

"Today, I heard a statement by US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General Mark Milley, who said that… Ukraine seemingly cannot expect to recapture all of its territory… in the near future; that is a step forward toward understanding how things stand on Earth now," Lavrov said in an interview with the "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" TV show. An excerpt of the interview was posted by reporter Pavel Zarubin on his Telegram channel on Sunday.

"Of course, it is unacceptable escalation. I think that there are still people in the West who realize this, but it is Washington, London and their satellites inside the European Union that are dictating everything," Lavrov added.

Earlier in the week, Milley said that in the short term Kiev is likely unable to achieve its strategic objective, which is to return control of all the territory it has lost to Russia.

At a news conference following a virtual meeting of a West-led contact group of countries sending weapons to Kiev on Thursday, Milley said Ukraine is unlikely to recapture all of its territory in the near term. According to the US general, Kiev’s strategic objective of regaining the territories taken by Russian troops could be achievable militarily, but not any time soon.

Pesawat Helikopter Jatuh di Perkebunan Teh Ciwidey

Sebuah ponsel memperlihatkan video helikopter yang jatuh di kawasan Ciwidey, Kabupaten Bandung, Jawa Barat, Minggu (28/5/2023). ANTARA/Handout/aa

Pesawat latih berjenis helikopter dilaporkan jatuh di kawasan perkebunan teh Ciwidey, kecamatan Rancabali Kabupaten Bandung, pada hari Minggu petang. Polisi saat ini masih menyelidiki dan menuju lokasi jatuhnya pesawat tersebut.

Kapolresta Bandung Kombes Pol Kusworo Wibowo membenarkan adanya kabar tersebut. Saat ini dia mengaku sedang berada dalam perjalanan ke lokasi.

"Betul ada pesawat jatuh di Ciwidey" ujar Kapolresta Bandung Kombes Kusworo Wibowo, hari Minggu, 28/05/2023.

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A post shared by KABUPATENBANDUNG (@infokabupatenbandung)

Kusworo belum memberikan penjelsan lebih lanjut. Dia menyebut pesawat yang jatuh adalah pesawat latih.

Kusworo dan jajaran tengah dalam perjalanan menuju lokasi jatuhnya pesawat. Detik-detik seusai pesawat jatuh pun beredar.

Rekaman video itu beredar di grup WhatsApp yang diunggah ke instagram pada hari ini, Ahad, 28 Mei 2023.

Dikabarkan, pesawat berjenis helikopter terjatuh di kawasan perkebunan teh wilayah Kecamatan Rancabali, Kabupaten Bandung, Jawa Barat.

Dari video yang beredar, terlihat kobaran api di lokasi kejadian.

Sementara, mengutip Detik, kobaran api dan asap hitam yang diduga berasal dari puing-puing jatuhnya pesawat. Terlihat juga sejumlah warga di antara lokasi jatuhnya pesawat tersebut.

Video berdurasi 16 detik itu menunjukkan kobaran api serta kepulan asap yang membubung tinggi. “Demi apa ada info masuk pesawat jatuh di Ciwidey,” ujar salah seorang netizen mengomentari video itu.

Dalam video, terlihat beberapa orang tengah mencoba mengangkat korban menuju ke mobil ambulans hitam yang sudah berada di kawasan perkebunan.

“Kalempar sawareh euy, opatan deui (Sebagian orangnya terlempar, ada empat orang lagi),” ucap salah seorang warga yang diduga tengah mencari korban pesawat jatuh.

Di bagian lainnya, nampak seorang pria yang penuh dnegan luka tengah diamankan oleh beberapa masyarakat tak jauh dari lokasi terbakarnya helikopter tersebut. Kapolresta Bandung Kombes Pol Kusworo Wibowo membenarkan adanya kejadian helikopter terjatuh di kawasan Rancabali.

Namun, dia belum bisa menjelaskan lebih rinci lantaran sedang menuju lokasi. "Iya (ada helikopter terjatuh di Rancabali)," kata Kusworo.

Russia's Cooperation With Saudi Arabia to Expand for Sake of Stability

©Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko / Go to the mediabank

Russian and Saudi Arabian law enforcement agencies will expand cooperation for the sake of security and stability in both countries, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said on Saturday.

"We did identify our avenues for further cooperation and decided that cooperation would expand and deepen for the sake of security and stability in our countries," he told the Rossiya 1 broadcaster.

During talks between Kolokoltsev and his Saudi counterpart, Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif Al Saud, they agreed to promote cooperation in multiple areas, including information-sharing on movement and financing of terrorists and extremists, the minister said, adding that the sides also decided to join efforts in fighting drugs and cybercrime.

Moscow and Riyadh reject attempts by any foreign forces to impose their "Western" morals and firmly stand by traditional values, Kolokoltsev added.

Kolokoltsev paid a visit to Riyadh earlier this week, where he discussed cooperation in the law enforcement sphere with his Saudi counterpart, among other matters. He visited a number of Saudi Interior Ministry departments, including the national center of security operations and the main passport department, at his counterpart's invitation.

Saudi Arabia strives to develop relations with Russia at all levels

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that the Kingdom strives to strengthen and develop relations with Russia at all levels, on March 9, 2023.

Agence France-Presse (AFP)/AFP

The foreign minister made the remarks during a session of talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday. “I look forward to today’s discussions contributing to unifying visions and supporting bilateral relations. There is always something new in the relations between our two friendly countries, which we seek to strengthen and develop at all levels,” he said.

The visit of Prince Faisal to Moscow comes after his visit to Ukraine on Sunday for the first time since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 30 years ago. The minister said that he discussed with Lavrov the challenges affecting the world, and they also exchanged views on international crises.

Prince Faisal praised the existing coordination in various fields between the two countries with regard to developing joint relations and coordination to face international challenges.

On his part, Lavrov welcomed Saudi Arabia’s increased interest in actively participate not only in the resolution of regional issues but also issues at the international level. The Russian minister said that he sees the importance of “permanent and mutual” coordination between the two countries at the level of ministries and government agencies and in the areas of trade, economy, and investments between Riyadh and Moscow. We always agree on the necessary steps to develop cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia, Lavrov added.

Saudi Arabia says its good relations with Russia would benefit all

Saudi Arabia said Saturday that its good relations with Russia would benefit all.

Speaking at a panel of the Munich Security Conference 2023 on the geostrategic role of Middle Eastern countries, Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan reiterated that his country maintains a dialogue with Kyiv and Moscow and sees a willingness in the two warring parties.

But issues between Ukraine and Russia are complex, he said.

“The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which we are a part, is unified in supporting dialogue as a means to resolve the problem,” he said.

Regarding the nuclear deal with Iran, he said GCC countries want to have a say in the matter.

“We want to return to the nuclear agreement, but with a comprehensive view and with Gulf participation,” he said, and warned that Iran’s obtaining nuclear weapons would prompt other countries to seek options to counter that reality.

Saudi-Russia Bilateral Trade Targeted At US$5 Billion

The Russian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sergey Kozlov has said that there is plenty of room for growth in bilateral trade between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and that the two countries intend to reach an initial target of US$5 billion.

Kozlov stated that the bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries are characterized by positive dynamics, and that Moscow sees Riyadh as a promising trade and economic partner whose role in global and regional affairs is steadily growing. Bilateral trade in 2022 reached about US$1.75 billion.

There are trade drivers. Russia’s relationships with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states typically revolves on a widespread regional desire to hedge against the United States. The US is seen as a waning power in some circles as the Middle East is becoming less of a core U.S. national security interest as a result of the U.S. pivot to Asia, the drawdown of the U.S. military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the United States own booming domestic oil and gas production. All these point to less US influence in the region leaving countries like Russia and China to fill in the gaps.

The GCC states and Russia also share a preference for strong, borderline authoritarian governance. Most of the GCC states abstained from a UN vote criticising Russia for the Ukraine conflict, while it appears apparent that Russian President Putin and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman get along.

Much of the Saudi portion of the bilateral trade volumes with Russia are driven by the petroleum chemicals sector, with Saudi Arabia exporting Amino-resins, Acyclic Alcohols, and Polyacetals. Russia in return exports Refined Petroleum, Barley and other foodstuffs.

There will be other opportunities for trade and development. Saudi Arabia has officially applied to join the BRICS grouping of countries, while like Russia it is a participant in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which also includes a growing multilateral trade section.

With Russian nationals exploring regional potential in the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, it will only be a matter of time before opportunity spill over from this transfers to Saudi Arabia, with the non-energy and services sector ripe for bilateral development.

Iran exchanges heavy gunfire with Taliban on Afghan border, escalating tensions over water rights

Tensions have been rising between Iran and Afghanistan as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned the Taliban not to violate Tehran’s water rights to the Helmand River. (File/AFP)

United Arab Emirates: The Taliban and Iran exchanged heavy gunfire Saturday on the Islamic Republic’s border with Afghanistan, killing and wounding troops while sharply escalating rising tensions between the two countries amid a dispute over water rights.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted the country’s deputy police chief, Gen. Qassem Rezaei, accusing the Taliban of opening fire first Saturday morning on the border of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province and the Afghan province of Nimroz. IRNA said Iran inflicted “heavy casualties and serious damage.”

From the Taliban’s view, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor accused Iran of shooting first. Takor said the firefight killed two people, one from each country, and wounded others. He described the situation as now being under control.

IRNA, quoting Iranian police, said two border guards had been killed. However, that number may be higher. The semiofficial, English-language newspaper Tehran Times said the fighting killed three Iranian border guards. IRNA said the Milak border crossing with Afghanistan, a major trade route, was closed until further notice over the gunfight.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers dialogue to be a reasonable way for any problem,” Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khawarazmi said in a statement. “Making excuses for war and negative actions is not in the interest of any of the parties.”

Amid escalating tensions, Iran’s Border Guard and the Taliban exchanged heavy gunfire on Saturday on the Islamic Republic's border with Afghanistan. Iran says its forces inflicted “heavy casualties and serious damage”. pic.twitter.com/zdAI1v0FDD

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) May 27, 2023

The advocacy group HalVash, which reports on issues affecting the Baluch people in the predominately Sunni province of Sistan and Baluchestan, quoted residents in the area saying the fighting took place near the Kang district of Nimroz. It said some people in the area had fled the violence.

Videos posted online, purportedly from the area, included the crackle of machine gun fire in the distance. HalVash later posted an image of what appeared to be the remains of a mortar round, saying that “heavy weapons and mortars are being used.”

Later videos from HalVash purported to show Iranian forces firing a mortar, as well as Taliban troops firing American-made machine guns at an Iranian border post. Other Taliban fighters drove armored vehicles likely left behind by NATO forces.

Iran vowed not let the Taliban attack stand.

“The border forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will decisively respond to any border trespassing and aggression, and the current authorities of Afghanistan must be held accountable for their unmeasured and contrary actions to international principles,” IRNA quoted Iran’s police chief, Gen. Ahmadreza Radan, as saying.

The clash comes as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi earlier this month warned the Taliban not to violate Iran’s water rights to the Helmand River. Raisi’s remarks represented some of the strongest yet over the long-running concerns about water in Iran.

Drought has been a problem in Iran for some 30 years, but has worsened over the past decade, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. The Iran Meteorological Organization says that an estimated 97 percent of the country now faces some level of drought.

The Taliban seized Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO troops were in the final weeks of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war. In the time since, Afghanistan has become the most repressive in the world for women and girls, depriving them of virtually all their basic rights, according to the UN Hunger remains endemic.

While not directly accepting the Taliban government, Iran has maintained relations with Afghanistan’s new rulers. Tehran also has called on the Taliban to allow women and girls to go to school.

Earlier on Saturday, the Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with an Iranian envoy to Afghanistan to discuss the Helmand River water rights, according to tweets from Afghan Foreign Ministry official Zia Ahmad. IRNA acknowledged the meeting, saying “that issues between the two countries will be better resolved through dialogue.”

But tensions have otherwise been rising. Another video posted online in recent days purportedly showed a standoff with Iranian forces and the Taliban as Iranian construction workers tried to reinforce the border between the two countries.

“We are a government, we have power,” the song goes. “Our leader Mullah Yaqoob will stand against Iran or we are not the republic’s government. We are not slaves, our leader Mullah Yaqoob will stand against Iran.”

Thailand says 1 million Chinese tourists visited from January to mid-May

E-visa limit will stop Chinese tourists from visiting Thailand

Tourists from mainland China dressed in traditional Thai costumes visit Wat Arun temple ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year as China reopens the border in Bangkok, Thailand January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Thailand received one million Chinese tourists between January and May 18, a government official said on Sunday, after China's border reopening.

The government expects the number of Chinese visitors to meet its target of 5 million this year, with spending of 446 billion baht ($13.18 billion), government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said in a statement.

Last year, about 274,000 Chinese tourists visited the Southeast Asian country, compared with 11 million in pre-pandemic 2019, or about 28% of the total.

Overall foreign tourist arrivals were 9.47 million from January to mid-May, the government earlier said, compared with the 11.15 million visitors in the whole of 2022.

Southeast Asia's second-largest economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter, driven by the continued pickup in the crucial tourism sector, a key source of jobs that was decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The return of Chinese visitors since February has helped boost Thai economic recovery, said TAT deputy governor for International Marketing Asia and South Pacific, Tanes Petsuwan.

One million Chinese tourists have already visited Thailand this year. The TAT forecasts rising demand will bring at least 5 million Chinese visitors in 2023, generating 446 billion baht in revenue, he said.

That estimate is based on a forecast rise in Chinese arrivals from the current 10,000 per day to 20,000 per day in the second half of the year

However, currently the Foreign Ministry's electronic visa system can only issue 84,000 e-visas per month.

If this limit on e-visas persists, it would be impossible to attract the 5 million Chinese tourists to Thailand this year, Tanes warned.

The ministry's Consular Affairs Department has promised to speed up visa approval to 15 days or less. However, tour operators want e-visa approval to be made within three days as it affects tourists' decisions, he said.

China was Thailand’s largest foreign tourism market before the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

On Monday, the TAT held a joint press conference with the Tourist Police Bureau to reassure Chinese visitors about travel safety in Thailand.

Tourist Police chief Lt-General Sukhum Prommayon said his force was working hard and making the most of modern technology to ensure tourists from all over the world can enjoy peace of mind in Thailand.

Foreign visitors can use the 1155 tourist police hotline and also download the Tourist Police I Lert U mobile app for emergency assistance in many languages, he said.

Tourists can also take a photo of any incident and upload it via the app to receive assistance, he added.

Meanwhile tourist police and patrol vehicles are equipped with live cameras to monitor and broadcast situations to the emergency response centre.

Tourist police will also join with the Royal Thai Police in stepping up safety and security during festivals and the high season, he added.

The TAT said a total of 9.78 million foreign tourists visited Thailand from January 1 to May 21. Most came from Malaysia (1.39 million), China (1.03 million), Russia (724,607), South Korea (598,554) and India (545,354).

The TAT recently upped its target this year from 18-20 million foreign tourists to 25 million, or 66% of the pre-pandemic level in 2019. Thailand aims to generate 2.38 trillion baht in tourism revenue this year.

Turkey's runoff election will decide if Erdogan extends his 20-year rule

Left to right: Turkish presidential candidates President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images; Burak Kara/Getty Images

Turkish voters head to the polls on Sunday for the second time in two weeks, in one of the most decisive presidential races in the republic's history.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who at age 69 has led Turkey for 20 years, is seeking another five-year term. Running against him is Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a 74-year-old political veteran backed by a diverse coalition of opposition parties.

In the first round on May 14, Erdogan received the most votes with 49.5%, compared to Kilicdaroglu's 44.9%. Now, the opposition is scrambling to close the gap for what will be the country's first runoff election for president.

The election comes as Turkey is grappling with a drawn-out economic crisis as well as struggling to recover from devastating earthquakes in February.

The world is closely watching, as the candidates' opposing visions for Turkey — an important NATO member — could have implications for security, immigration and other areas of global interest.

Concerns about the Turkish economy

In Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, it's not hard to find people who have strong opinions about the race — many of them against the incumbent.

One resident standing outside a currency exchange, Osman, says Erdogan has had enough time in power. Like most people interviewed for this story, Osman doesn't want to use his family name because he's worried about retaliation for speaking to foreign media about the election.

After becoming prime minister in 2003, Erdogan eventually switched to become president and amassed sweeping executive powers after assuming a job that had previously been largely ceremonial.

"I hope [Kilicdaroglu] will win, but I doubt he will," Osman says. "After 20 years in power, somehow the man [Erdogan] will still not let go."

Erdogan previously oversaw years of economic growth in Turkey. But these days, critics fault him for many of the country's deep economic troubles.

Like many people in Turkey, Osman keeps a close eye on the value of the Turkish lira, and lately the news has been depressing. When Erdogan began as prime minister, the conversion rate was roughly 1.50 liras to the U.S. dollar. This week, the lira sank to a new record low beyond 20 liras to the dollar.

Some economists say this was largely due to Erdogan's pushing the Turkish central bank to repeatedly lower interest rates to spur economic growth, despite warnings that could depress the currency and send inflation soaring.

Turkey's official annual inflation climbed to a whopping 85% last October, before easing to just below 44% in April, although independent economists estimate the actual rate is much higher.

Osman worries if Erdogan wins again, the economy could collapse before he serves out his term in office. Erdogan's unorthodox economic policy is not sustainable, he says.

Running strong during a slump

But despite the hard times facing Turkish families, Erdogan has continued to draw support from his base — which includes religious Muslim, conservative and working-class people who felt largely ignored under previous governments.

The economy likely won't be the deciding factor in Turkey's elections, according to Mustafa Akyol, an analyst at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington, D.C.

It's not the economy here. It's identity politics and culture war.

"It's not the economy here, it's identity politics and culture war," he says, largely because of Erdogan.

Akyol says the underlying message from Turkey's leader is more like: "All good, pious Muslims should vote for [Erdogan] because he's their savior, he's reviving the glory of the Ottoman Empire — he's making Turkey Muslim and great again."

He says Erdogan has created "a huge propaganda machine which is pumping this narrative every day to Turkish society, through media [and] through soap operas on TV."

Turkey's changing view of refugees

Another concern on some voters' minds is immigration.

Turkey hosts the world's largest refugee population, with close to 4 million people fleeing Syria and other countries. But Turkey has joined European nations in pulling back the welcome mat.

Fifty-two-year-old Dilek says after taking in most of the refugees a decade ago, it's time they went home.

"Coming from home ... I didn't see many Turks on the road," she says. "Syrians, Afghans, Arabs, that's all. Right and left they speak in foreign languages, no one speaks Turkish," she adds. "And this won't get better, it will get worse."

That message has clearly reached both Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu. Erdogan speaks of returning 1 million Syrians, and has launched a campaign to build housing in northern Syria for them.

For his part, Kilicdaroglu initially pledged to repatriate most, if not all migrants within two years of being elected. Then, as the race came down to the wire, he reduced that timeline to just one year.

Who is expected to win?

Forecasts suggest a close race with Erdogan ahead. That said, the results from the first round defied pre-election predictions, when some opinion polls had projected Kilicdaroglu to win.

Since then, the candidates have hardened their tone against refugees and Kurdish militants, as they scrambled to appeal to Turkey's hard-line nationalists.

Erdogan received a key endorsement on Monday from a nationalist former candidate who finished third in the May 14 elections, with 5.2% of the votes.

Then on Wednesday, Kilicdaroglu was endorsed by the head of the nationalist Victory Party.

Many analysts say — barring some unexpected eleventh-hour switch — Erdogan appears poised to win, extending his tenure as the longest-serving leader in the history of the Turkish Republic.