You're reading: Poroshenko says he is ready to free two Russian military servicemen detained in Ukraine in exchange for Savchenko

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he is ready to transfer Alexander Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev, Russian military servicemen detained in Ukraine, to Russia in exchange for Ukrainian pilot and MP Nadia Savchenko, who has been sentenced to 22 years in prison. Poroshenko said the swap could take place immediately after a Ukrainian court pronounces its sentence on the two Russians.

“I am ready, in turn, to hand the two Russian servicemen detained in our territory for involvement in armed aggression against Ukraine over to Russia. The court proceedings on their cases are in the final phase. Immediately after completion of the trial, I am ready to ensure their departure for Russia by following the appropriate procedures,” Poroshenko said in a statement after the Donetsk City Court in Russia’s Rostov region handed down its 22-year prison sentence for Savchenko earlier on March 22.