UK and France to lead multinational exercise in Poland to rehearse deployment to Ukraine
Nearly 3,000 troops from 12 European countries will take part in a November drill to test movement, protection, resupply and command for a possible deployment to Ukraine.
Britain and France will lead a military exercise in Poland this month to rehearse how multinational forces could be deployed to Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached. Nearly 3,000 military personnel from 12 European countries are due to take part, organisers say.
Plans for so‑called reassurance forces were established last year as one of the long‑term security guarantees offered by European states, but many practical questions remain about how such a force would operate. Western officials stress that troops sent into Ukraine would not take part in offensive operations, nor would they be deployed on peacekeeping or ceasefire‑monitoring missions.
Operational limits and rules of engagement
The United States has been involved in discussions over the concept but will not contribute personnel to the mission. Russia opposes stationing foreign troops on Ukrainian soil — and, according to the reporting, President Vladimir Putin has said such forces would be legitimate targets.
Western officials say multinational units in Ukraine would be permitted to return fire if attacked by Russian forces, and that they would not rely on U.S. systems or technology such as Starlink. As one official familiar with the plans put it: "It is clear that we will protect our forces from any aggression. But their engagement would be strictly defensive."
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the exercise will demonstrate that the United Kingdom, France and their allies are sharpening preparations for the day peace comes to Ukraine. "This is not a hypothetical plan, but a real force, ready to help Ukraine the moment the fighting stops," he said.
Other participating countries include Poland, Germany, Belgium, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. The exercise, called "Koalicja", will run from 9 to 22 November and is intended to test how forces would move, protect themselves and be resupplied on Ukrainian territory, as well as the command and control arrangements needed for multinational cooperation.
Photo: PA)
