U.S. ambassador meets detained WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia

• "Ambassador Tracy reports that Mr. Gershkovich is in good health and remains strong, despite his circumstances," a State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement Monday evening.
• "U.S. Embassy officials will continue to provide all appropriate support to Mr. Gershkovich and his family, and we expect Russian authorities to provide continued consular access."

The big picture: Russian authorities detained Gershkovich while he was on a reporting trip in the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,000 miles east of Moscow, on March 29.

• He's being held at Moscow's Lefortovo Prison, which is known for its harsh conditions, and has had his detention extended to at least Aug. 30.
• Russia's Federal Security Service accused the reporter of trying to obtain classified information "on the instructions of the United States," but U.S. officials called the claims "baseless."

• The U.S. imposed sanctions on the FSB in late April for its role in the wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens, including Gershkovich and Paul Whelan. The spokesperson renewed calls Monday for their immediate release.

Zoom out: Moscow has faced widespread backlash over Gershkovich's arrest from dozens of countries that have called for his release and an end to Putin officials' clampdown on freedom of expression in the country.