US Needs to Seek Ways to Engage Directly With Russian People - Envoy to UN

The United States must continue to establish direct contacts with the Russian people, outgoing US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said in an address at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Power noted that at present, the United States has less contact with ordinary Russians than at any time in the past several decades.

"We must continue to seek ways to engage directly with the Russian people," Power stated, adding that the United States also needs to continue to engage with the Russian government as well.

The Russian government, Power recalled, has closed 28 US-funded American corners and the American Center in Moscow, and has also expelled US-supported and independent non-profit organizations.

In 2012, the Russian parliament adopted a law requiring non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in political activities and receiving funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents" and to label all their publications as such.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the law was needed to limit direct and indirect foreign interference via NGOs in the country.

Power argued the US government "must find others to take their place."

In December 2016, Putin said Russia would increase financing for NGOs and would consider the possibility to improve the law concerning foreign agents.