The UK and France will lead 2,800 troops from 11 countries in a major exercise in Poland next week, testing plans to support Ukraine after a ceasefire.
Exercise Koalicja, running from 9 to 22 November, is the first major drill organised by the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U).
The force is the military arm of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of 34 countries that have pledged to provide long-term support to Kyiv and potentially deploy a multinational deterrence force after the war ends.
“This exercise will show that the Multinational Force-Ukraine 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,” Lieutenant General Tom Bateman, commander of the MNF-U, said in a statement.
The MNF-U, also referred to as a reassurance force, was set up in September 2025 by members of the Coalition of the Willing. France and Britain, which co-chair the grouping, have since worked to make plans operational for a deployment in the event of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
The force is seen as a key security guarantee Europeans can provide to Ukraine. The aim is to deploy it away from the front line to support Ukraine on land, at sea and in the air.
Although 26 countries have previously expressed a willingness to contribute troops or equipment to the MNF-U, only 11 – Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the UK – are taking part in the exercise.
French General Armel Dirou, Bateman’s second-in-command in the MNF-U, said the short preparation period was one of the main reasons not all countries could participate.
“Normally, to organise this type of exercise, you need 18 months. This time, we had four months. Some countries had to review their priorities in relation to other exercises and training, including NATO exercises, while others had to find the necessary funding,” he said.
The exercise will test command structures, logistics and coordination across land, air and maritime forces. The largest component, including ground troops, will take place in Poland, while the air component will be coordinated from Romania. Aircraft will depart from Romania to join the exercise in Poland. Türkiye will lead a maritime tabletop exercise.
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