NATO's rapid response forces NRF is the other side of the coin of US efforts to sell NATO expansion to the countries around Russian borders, and above all to those countries where the population is against the NATO membership just as is the case here in Finland. As a matter of fact US Army and NATO had the NRF troops established already and tested in Afganistan. However, they had to turn down the whole NRF because of the costs, short of money and financing and because they never succeeded in getting the troops and units working together under one commando. So, now USA ja NATO are offering full memebership or partnership in order to get new members and payers for restarting NRF. The problem is that neither USA nor NATO know the final costs, budget and the NRF strike ability and capacity. USA and NATO are in a hurry for the simple reason that European Union defence has its own Rapid response forces. Now there are a lot of fear and nervousness in USA that NATO will have a smaller role in the EU defence policy so, they are very interested in replacing EU Rapid response forces with NRF. That's why they are now on Ukraine anticipating the country joining EU.

@ Erkki LOL……..what are you talking about….”EU Rapid response”…there is no such thing. That is the only reason NATO is alive and well. There is no “cost” of NATO to one country as every country contributes what they want and can according to the mission, this is no secret.

I hope we survive!!!

What caused the rift between Russia and Ukraine? Apparently, at one time they had a lot in common. There is so much anamosity today.