THE United States’ ambassador to Russia and a top Russian diplomat met on Thursday to discuss a Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested last week on espionage charges, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

This comes as the US is reportedly blocking attempts to speed up Ukraine’s membership of Nato.

In the meeting with US ambassador Lynne T Tracy, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed “the serious nature of the charges” against US journalist Evan Gershkovich, according to a ministry statement.

The statement said: “It was emphasised that he was caught red-handed while trying to obtain secret information, using his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions.”

The ministry added that “the hype in the United States around this case — aimed at putting pressure on the Russian authorities and the court, which should decide the fate of Mr Gershkovich — is hopeless and senseless.”

Mr Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg on March 29. He is the first US correspondent since the cold war to be detained for alleged spying.

Russia’s Federal Security Service accused Mr Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. 

The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations.

Lawyers representing Mr Gershkovich met with him on Tuesday for the first time since his detention, according to the Wall Street Journal. Editor-in-chief Emma Tucker said the paper was encouraged by the visit and Mr Gershkovich’s family is “relieved to know we finally have contact with Evan.”

“Evan’s health is good, and he is grateful for the outpouring of support from around the world. We continue to call for his immediate release,” Ms Tucker said in a note to the newsroom on Tuesday.

Mr Gershkovich was ordered held behind bars for two months in Russia pending an investigation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a phone call on Sunday to release Mr Gershkovich immediately.

This comes after the Financial Times reported this week that the US is resisting efforts by some of its European allies to provide a “road map” to membership of the Nato military alliance for Ukraine.

The Financial Times says the US, along with Germany and Hungary, are blocking attempts by Poland and the Baltic states to guarantee a clearer accession route for Ukraine to join.

The US reportedly wants Nato members to focus on delivering Ukraine aid and weapons to use against the Russians. 

This apparent division comes ahead of the Nato summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in July.