; (2) clearly state the costs that should be imposed on Russia for its attempts to utilize tools of malign influence against the United States and its European allies and partners; (3) proactively mitigate Russian attempts to influence or interfere with the United States and its European allies and partners through deterrence, denial, and resilience measures such that the damage inflicted upon the United States and its allies and partners when attacks do occur is reduced; and (4) promote stronger ties with democratic countries around the world, understanding that the best defense against malign Russian influence is a strong democracy and respect for individual liberty and the rule of law. 5. Russia Influence Group (a) Establishment There is established a Russia Influence Group (in this Act referred to as the RIG ). (b) Functions The RIG shall— (1) hold not fewer than two senior-level meetings annually, at which all members are present, to coordinate and provide guidance on the interagency efforts to counter malign Russian influence in Europe and the United States; (2) hold not fewer than four working-level meetings annually, at which the RIG shall— (A) conduct interim assessments and formulate proposed improvements to the RIG’s efforts to counter malign Russian influence in Europe and the United States, which shall be presented at the senior-level meetings; (B) review monitoring and evaluation assessments by the individual agencies, departments, and third-party evaluators for programs and efforts designed to counter malign Russian influence, with particular emphasis on programs designed to counter such influence in Europe and the United States; and (C) develop methods and plans for applying the results of such assessments to modify activities on an iterative basis across relevant Federal departments and agencies