Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko believes a decision on the release of Ukrainian military pilot and parliamentarian Nadia Savchenko and her return home can be made only after the sentence handed down on her by a Russian court takes legal effect.

"I do not expect any decisions before the so-called court judgment takes effect," Poroshenko told journalists in Kharkiv, pointing out that the sentence should come into effect in early April.

"As soon as this happens, Nadia should be immediately returned to Ukraine," he said.