In brief
On Nov. 9, the Britain‑ and France‑led coalition launched a 2,800‑person drill in Poland to showcase readiness for a future post‑war troop deployment to Ukraine. European officials, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, pressed for a seat at the Abu Dhabi talks, while Russia warned that any foreign forces in Ukraine would be legitimate targets.
On Monday, November 9, the Britain‑ and France‑led Coalition of the Willing staged a large-scale military exercise in southeastern Poland, testing its ability to deploy a 2,800‑person multinational force to Ukraine once hostilities cease.
The drills, code‑named “KOALICJA 26.2,” ran from November 9 to 22 and included units from eleven countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Poland. Polish authorities said the exercise was hosted at facilities near Nowa Deba, about 100 km from the Ukrainian border, while Turkish forces conducted maritime mine‑clearing exercises from Istanbul.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, the exercise would test command‑and‑control arrangements, rehearse the movement of personnel, equipment and supplies, and assess how various units could operate together as a multinational force. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the drills were “not a hypothetical plan, it’s a real force, ready to help Ukraine once the fighting stops.”
The Coalition of the Willing, formed in 2025, comprises more than thirty member states, the vast majority of which are European. The United States was not included in the roster of participating nations, and Poland’s Defence Ministry clarified that while the country would provide logistical support for the drills, it did not plan to send troops to Ukraine after the conflict ends.
The timing of the exercise coincided with the eve of the new round of peace negotiations between Russia, the United States and Ukraine slated to resume in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. European officials, eager for a greater role in the talks, used the drill as a demonstration of military credibility and a statement of political intent.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday that the European Union would attend the Abu Dhabi talks. However, Kremlin officials insisted that the core negotiations would involve only Russia, Ukraine and the United States. “The core negotiations will involve only Russia, Ukraine and the United States,” said a Kremlin spokesman, signalling Russia’s resistance to European participation.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that any foreign military units deployed in Ukraine would be regarded as legitimate targets. “Any foreign military units deployed in Ukraine will be considered legitimate targets,” Zakharova said, adding that Russia would not hesitate to respond if such forces were present.
Ukraine, which has urged that the European Union secure a seat at the negotiating table, reiterated its position in briefings to Ukrainian officials. “Ukraine insists its European allies must have a seat at the negotiating table,” a senior Ukrainian diplomat said, underscoring the country’s insistence on broadening the forum beyond the current trio of Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
Analysts noted that the Coalition’s large forces and the multinational nature of the exercise were designed to send a clear signal to both Ukraine and Russia about Europe’s military capability and willingness to contribute to post‑war reconstruction and security guarantees. The exercise was seen as a strategic move by European leaders to stake claim to a role within the peace‑building process that had traditionally been dominated by the United States.
Experts also cautioned that while the drill demonstrated operational readiness, the political outcome remains uncertain. “The EU’s participation in the talks depends on the political will of both Russia and the United States,” said an analyst reviewing the situation. The outcome will hinge on the negotiation dynamics in Abu Dhabi, where Russia has made clear its preference for limited external involvement.
As the Abu Dhabi talks progress over the next few days, observers will watch whether the European Union’s earlier demonstration of power translates into an actual seat at the negotiation table, and how Russia and the United States respond to the prospect of a larger European presence on the diplomatic frontline.
The exercise also highlighted likely areas of future collaboration, particularly in maritime mine clearance and joint operational exercises, as Turkey participated from Istanbul, suggesting a broader set of areas where European and partner nations might influence the post‑war environment in Ukraine.
Overall, the drill’s completion on November 22 will serve as a reminder to Moscow that the coalition’s military cohesion is firmly rooted and that, irrespective of diplomatic tensions, Europe stands ready to play an active, if contested, role in shaping Ukraine’s future security architecture.
