U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says some of Russia's efforts at democratic reform are "going in the wrong direction."
Rice told CBS television Sunday that the way Russia used energy against Ukraine and a new law regulating non-governmental organizations are problems.
Russia cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine during a price dispute last month, causing gas shortages in Europe. Ukraine called it a political move.
Rice said despite Washington's concerns, the situation in Russia is better than it was in the former Soviet Union and that U.S.-Russian relations are the best they have been for quite some time.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.