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President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation, White House spokesperson John Kirby said.

\"PHOTO:
The Wall Street Journal via Reuters, FILe
PHOTO: Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Evan Gershkovich, appears in an undated portrait.
>

Gershkovich covers Russia and Ukraine for the WSJ. The newspaper \"vehemently denies\" the spying allegations brought against their reporter and is seeking his immediate release.

The U.S. has previously negotiated to secure the release of wrongfully detained Americans abroad. Last year, WNBA star Britney Griner was released in a prisoner exchange with Russia following a monthslong saga after her detention on drug charges.

But Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov downplayed any suggestion of an exchange, saying it's too early for such talks.

\"I wouldn't raise a question on this now, because you yourself understand that some exchanges that took place in the past took place for people who were already serving sentences,\" Ryabkov told reporters.

Gershkovich's arrest comes amid the worsening relationship between Russia and the United States.

Asked if there were any indication that this was retaliation by Russia, Kirby said he couldn't say as an investigation is ongoing.

\"We do not know right now,\" he said. \"We are still trying to gain as much information and context as we can. It's early hours, so I can assure you we're all working as hard as we can, but we don't know any more than what I've been able to share with you in my opening statements.\"

When asked Thursday if he was concerned the reporter's detention was an escalation on Russia's part, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said yes.

\"Putin plays all these little games with bluffing and brinkmanship and this is another,\" Schumer said in a press conference. \"To have an innocent journalist held hostage for that is really despicable. I am urging the administration to do everything they can to get him free.\"

Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., responded to Gershkovich's detention by stating a free press is \"absolutely essential.\"

\"The Russian people need to know the truth, which is why they want to arrest reporters who tell people -- they would not be for this carnage that Putin and his dictatorship has affected and the tragedy and war crimes that are being committed,\" Hoyer told reporters.

ABC News' Patrick Reevell, Joseph Simonetti and Molly Nagle contributed to this report.

Correction: A previous version of this story mistakenly referred to Hoyer as a Republican.

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