Biden expected to respond to WNBA star Brittney Griner on Wednesday

President Joe Biden is expected to respond to WNBA star Brittney Griner on Wednesday after her handwritten letter pleading for his help with her release from jail in Russia, administration officials told NBC News.

The officials said that it is not yet clear whether the response will be in writing, through a phone call or otherwise. One official said he will certainly respond soon. The National Security Council declined to comment and pointed out White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's comments on Tuesday when asked whether Biden would respond to Griner. Jean-Pierre said that Biden read Griner's letter on Monday and that he doesn't have anything to share about what if he's going to respond, or what that would look like.

Biden is under increasing pressure to demonstrate progress toward her release, as she faces a trial for drug smuggling charges. She was detained in Russia in February after authorities said she was in possession of cannabis-derived vape cartridges. On Monday, Biden received a letter from Griner in which she wrote, I m terrified I might be here forever. Cherelle, Griner's wife, has also been publicly speaking about her husband, Rev. Dr. Griner, in recent days. Al Sharpton wants the Biden administration to help facilitate a visit from him and other religious leaders.

One senior administration official said that the U.S. doesn't believe in a resolution for Griner before her trial begins, which is likely to take weeks. The administration believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate a deal.

Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that the administration has been aggressively behind the scenes on Griner's release, noting that national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with Griner's wife on Saturday for the second time in a couple of weeks. Jean-Pierre wouldn't say whether the president would accept a prisoner swap as part of a deal for her freedom.