The working group strategy, to combat "false information," will involve experts speaking on hot-button policy issues at schools and enterprises.
Mantila criticized Russian media for "selective quoting" of Finnish politicians that, in his point of view, is so widespread that it is "clearly no coincidence." He also said that one of the objectives of "Russian propaganda" could be to weaken European Union unity.
Relations between Moscow and the West hit a low point after Crimea's 2014 reunification with Russia and the escalation of Ukrainian crisis. The United States, the European Union and their allies accused Russia of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs – claims that Moscow repeatedly denied — and began imposing economic sanctions.
Earlier this year, Broadcasting Board of Governors, a US government agency, requested an additional $15.4 million to expand its Russian-language programming and social media content.
At the same time, its anti-Islamic State campaign amount only to $6.1 million.