"The discussion is underway on the legal formula of possible exchange. I do not rule it out, every opportunity to save the lives of our citizens should be used," Matviyenko said. "Political will is needed on both sides for this to happen, and there is political will on our side," she added.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Tuesday that he agreed an "algorithm of freeing" former Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko by exchanging her for Russian nationals Alexander Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Commenting on Poroshenko’s statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that "Russia will act in strict accordance with national legislature" in this case.
"Only the president can make a decision on this. I cannot say which (decision he will make)," Peskov noted.
Russia has political will for Savchenko exchange - Federation Council speaker
20 April 2016
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Russia has political will for possible exchange of former Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko for Russian nationals convicted in Ukraine, Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said on Wednesday, AzVision.az reports citing the Russian media.
