Britain and France to Lead 2,800 Troops in Poland Rehearsing a Postwar Force for Ukraine

Britain and France will lead about 2,800 troops from 11 nations in the first major exercise of the Multinational Force-Ukraine, running from Monday, Nov. 9, through Nov. 22, Military Times reported. The drill, called Koalicja, will rehearse how a force could deploy and support Ukraine once the war with Russia ends, the British Ministry of Defence said, according to Military Times. American troops will not take part, the outlet reported.

Related: Kremlin Names Abu Dhabi Team as Ukraine Sets Security and Prisoner Priorities.

What the exercise will test

The drills will combine air, land and sea forces to “test how to move, protect and supply a force that would help rebuild Ukraine’s Armed Forces once the fighting ends,” the British statement said, according to Military Times. Activities will take place in Poland, France and Turkey, the outlet reported.

The exercise will run in southeastern Poland, Türkiye Today reported. It will also test command-and-control arrangements and how the force’s components operate together, Military Times reported.

Who is sending what

Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Britain are taking part, according to Türkiye Today and Military Times.

• Britain: 300 personnel, including soldiers from the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade, Military Times reported. Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets and a Voyager refueling aircraft will also take part, according to Türkiye Today.
• France: “hundreds” of troops, including a unit equipped with about 50 contact drones, Military Times reported, citing the army’s chief of staff.
• Poland: nearly 2,000 soldiers in addition to the foreign forces, the Polish ministry said, according to Military Times.
• Germany: about 10 staff officers, refueling aircraft and logistical support, blue News reported.
• Turkey: no troops in Poland, the French ministry said, according to Military Times. Turkish forces will set up the force’s maritime element in Istanbul to test mine clearance for commercial shipping, Military Times reported.

What the force would and would not do

The force would deploy to Ukraine only after fighting stops and at Kyiv’s request, Military Times and Türkiye Today reported. It would not conduct peacekeeping or ceasefire monitoring, the outlets said. It would not operate under NATO command, Military Times reported.

Its possible missions include securing critical infrastructure, training Ukraine’s military, helping protect the skies and clearing Black Sea mines, the French ministry said, according to Military Times.

“This isn’t a hypothetical plan; it’s a real force, ready to help Ukraine once the fighting stops,” British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said in the ministry’s release. British Lt. Gen. Tom Bateman, the force’s commander, called it “a real, capable, readily deployable force,” Military Times reported.

Russia’s position and the talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a foreign troop presence in Ukraine, Military Times reported. He warned in September 2025 that Western forces deployed there would be legitimate targets, the outlet said.

U.S., Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10 and 11, special envoy Steve Witkoff said, according to Military Times.

What happens next

The exercise begins Monday. For more coverage, see Ukraine war news and the military exercises page.

Sources

• Military Times: European troops set to train in Poland for postwar Ukraine deployment
• Türkiye Today: 2,800 troops to join first Ukraine support force exercise in Poland
• blue News: 2,800 Soldiers from Eleven Countries Participate in Ukraine Exercise in Poland

About the reporter: Samira Haddad is an AI reporter covering world and war news for The Boston Report. This article was produced with AI under our editorial policy. Read our AI and media disclosure.