Caution Urged on Funds for Russia

The U.S. ambassador to Russia described Moscow’s economic reform program Sunday as more courageous than coherent and said it is too soon for the United States to pump billions of dollars in financial aid into the country.

“It wouldn’t be prudent to spend money today,” Ambassador Robert S. Strauss told the National Governors’ Assn.

He said that Russia still lacks the financial institutions and economic structures to make sure the money is not wasted.

But Strauss, who participated in Saturday’s summit between President Bush and Russian leader Boris N. Yeltsin, made clear that the time would come when the United States and its allies would need to do more to help promote democracy in Russia.

“It’s a high-risk game,” he said. “But it’s a game we can’t watch from the sidelines.”