Lasting until 22 November and taking place in Nowa Dęba, about 100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, the exercises are jointly led by France and the United Kingdom. They involve land, air and sea components under the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U), the coalition’s military arm. AFP reported that around 1,100 French troops are taking part, while the British defence ministry says it has sent 300 personnel. Other countries taking part are Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. Polska Zbrojna, a publication linked to the Polish defence ministry, reports that just under 2,000 Polish troops will take part, bringing the total to almost 5,000. Reports on the number of countries involved vary, with one source stating 10 and another 11.
The plans were first announced in July by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk after a summit of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris. The British Ministry of Defence said the exercise, named ‘Koalicja’, ‘will test Allies’ readiness to support Ukraine and rebuild their Armed Forces once the conflict ends’. Tom Bateman, the British lieutenant-general commanding MNF-U, said the manoeuvres would show that the force is ‘a real, capable, readily deployable force that represents a serious commitment from Coalition of the Willing nations to Ukraine’s long-term stability and security’.
France’s armed forces ministry said the aim is to ensure the MNF-U can be ‘ready to deploy at the request of the Ukrainian government’ to help guarantee a robust and lasting peace. Potential roles include sending instructors to rebuild Ukraine’s military, enabling civilian flights to resume in Ukrainian airspace, and clearing mines from Black Sea shipping routes. The maritime component is being led by Turkey through a simulated exercise.
Poland, which is hosting the manoeuvres, has reiterated that it will not send its own soldiers to Ukrainian territory as part of any postwar settlement, but intends to help provide logistical support. France, the UK and Poland have stressed that MNF-U forces would only be deployed after fighting ceases and would not undertake peacekeeping or ceasefire monitoring.
The exercises come as Ukraine and Russia meet the United States and other parties for peace talks in Abu Dhabi this week. Ukraine has repeatedly insisted that European security guarantees would be necessary for any peace agreement. British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting suggested the exercises forecast such a scenario: ‘This isn’t a hypothetical plan, it’s a real force, ready to help Ukraine once the fighting stops.’
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, condemned the exercises, saying they make ‘absolutely clear that the West remains unwilling to take Russia’s legitimate security concerns into account and continues to fuel the spiral of escalation’. She described any deployment of foreign forces to Ukraine as ‘absolutely unacceptable’ and warned that ‘any military units in Ukraine will be regarded by the Russian armed forces as legitimate targets’. She also said the exercises are ‘yet another confirmation that the Europeans have no place at the negotiating table’.