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Poroshenko Announces Agreement With Putin on Savchenko Release

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2nd L) shakes hands with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced that an agreement has been reached on the release of former Ukrainian military pilot Nadezhda Savchenko, the Meduza news website reported Tuesday.

“As a result of yesterday’s talks [with Putin], there is the possibility of a few tweaks being made on the issue [of Savchenko] and other Ukrainian citizens,” Poroshenko said, Meduza reported.

Savchenko is currently serving a 22-year sentence in a Russian prison after she was found guilty of involvement in the murder of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine.

Poroshenko also mentioned the 14-year sentences handed to Russian citizens Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov on Monday after a Kiev court found them guilty of terrorism.

“This decision of the judge opens a definite possibility for an exchange,” he said, Meduza reported. “However, I ask that we all refrain from any kind of speculation about a deadline or any further steps.”

The Kremlin’s press service reported that Putin and Poroshenko discussed the future of the three prisoners yesterday in telephone talks.

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