Europe’s future force for Ukraine from 11 countries will hold its first rehearsal in Poland—for a peace that doesn’t exist yet

The United Kingdom and France will jointly lead Exercise Koalicja, the first major exercise conducted by the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNF-U), according to announcements made by the UK and France on 3 November. The MNF-U is the military wing of the Coalition of the Willing, whose members have promised Ukraine more military, economic, and diplomatic help.

Partner countries will hold the drills while Russia keeps attacking Ukraine with no ceasefire agreed and still rejects any Western troops on Ukrainian soil, Kyiv Post reports. After almost two years of meetings and summits, the Coalition of the Willing is finally moving toward practical military preparations, Le Monde wrote on 2 November.

The exercise will test how allied forces can operate together

The exercise will involve 2,800 military personnel from 11 countries, counting Türkiye’s naval part: Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom, according to the UK’s announcement.

The United States is not part of this framework, and its role in future security guarantees for Ukraine remains largely uncertain, Le Monde noted.

The troops will check how the force is commanded, practice moving people, gear, and supplies, and see whether its separate units can work as one.

Soldiers from the British Army’s 7th Brigade will practice moving troops and supplies, while RAF Typhoon jets backed by a Voyager tanker plane fly practice missions to cover commercial flights once Ukraine’s airspace reopens. In Istanbul, Turkish forces will set up the force’s naval wing and test mine-clearing plans so merchant ships can sail to Ukrainian ports again, the statement said.

If peace comes, the force is meant to help make Ukraine’s skies and seas safer and rebuild its army. It would go into Ukraine only after the fighting stops and only if Kyiv asks. Keeping the peace or watching over a ceasefire is not part of its job, the announcement states.

Poland will host the first major Coalition exercise

Exercise Koalicja, whose name means “coalition” in Polish, will take place from 9 to 22 November near Nowa Dęba in southeastern Poland, France 24 reported. It is approximately 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Poland was considered a natural choice to host the first exercise because of its experience in organizing similar military training activities. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, several training centers for Ukrainian troops have operated on Polish territory, including one within the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine), Le Monde reported.

The Coalition of the Willing is coordinating further support for Ukraine

The Coalition of the Willing is a group of 36 countries that coordinate support for Ukraine and work on security guarantees for the country after the war. In October 2026, Germany initiated preparations for a new meeting of the coalition amid continued Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, despite statements about a possible energy truce.