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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 BelTa / Reuters / Tool

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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