Ukraine to participate in NATO rapid response forces

Ukraine will participate in NATO's rapid response unit as early as 2015, according to a top official of the alliance.

According to a representative of the NATO military committee, Colonel Massimo Panizzi, a country doesn't need to be a member in order to participate in this unit. However, Ukraine will become the first non-member country to participate.

Panizzi refused to specify what that participation may involve.

His comment comes as Ukraine braces itself for the second round of the presidential election in a country where, according to the latest polls, almost 60 percent are against Ukraine's NATO bid.