Britain and France to drill 2,800 troops for a future Ukraine deployment

Some 2,800 military personnel from 12 European nations will take part in Exercise Koalicja from 9-22 November, a rehearsal staged in neighbouring Poland. The drill tests how a force would move, protect and supply itself inside Ukraine, plus whether troops from different countries can actually run a fight together. The UK is sending 300 troops and a pair of RAF Typhoons, which will simulate reassuring commercial aircraft once Ukraine's skies reopen.

Turkey will head the maritime portion, with the eventual aim of clearing mines and restarting Black Sea trade. Alongside the UK, troops come from France, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. The United States has sat in on the discussions but is not contributing to the mission.

Western officials were blunt that any deployed force would stay out of offensive operations, peacekeeping and ceasefire monitoring, and would not run under Nato command or sit on the front line. Its job, they say, would be to reassure Ukraine and help rebuild its armed forces. Officials declined to spell out the rules of engagement if international troops were attacked, though they insist the force could defend itself.

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting framed the exercise as proof the planning is real: “This is not a hypothetical plan, it's a real force, ready to help Ukraine once the fighting stops.” Lt Gen Tom Bateman, UK commander of the Multi National Force – Ukraine, called it a step toward turning political promises into deployable military capability.

Russia has already objected to foreign troops on Ukrainian soil. Last year President Vladimir Putin said they would be “legitimate targets.” Officials also can't yet say what the final force would look like — contributions hinge on how hostilities end and on each nation's own political call. And Russia has shown no sign it wants to stop fighting.