Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he has called on the National Security and Defense Council to consider sanctions against Russian officials involved in the prosecution of Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko.
A Russian court has sentenced Savchenko to 22 years in prison for her alleged involvement in the death of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine.
After the sentence was pronounced on March 22, Poroshenko said he was ready to exchange the pilot for two Russians who were captured during fighting in eastern Ukraine and whom Kyiv believes are Russian servicemen.
Addressing journalists in the eastern city of Kharkiv on March 23, Poroshenko said the exchange would be possible only after Savchenko's sentence comes fully into force, meaning when the 10-day appeal period expires.
Savchenko said she won't appeal the ruling, and that she did not recognize the Russian court or its right to try her.
