Coalition of the Willing kicks off first military exercises in Poland

Around 2,800 soldiers from 11 countries are set to take part from Monday in the first military exercise of the "Coalition of the Willing" aimed at supporting Ukraine in a future post-war period, the French and British defence ministries said.

The exercise is designed to test how lasting peace can be secured after a ceasefire to end the war is successfully negotiated. 

Poland is the main host, with France and Britain leading the exercise called Koalicja 2026 (Coalition 2026). It is due to run until November 22. 

The Coalition of the Willing was formed in early 2025 to support Ukraine. The decision to set up the multinational force was then taken in December at a Ukraine summit in Berlin.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said that any stationing of troops in Ukraine would be considered a "de facto military intervention and the deliberate creation of additional threats to Russia's security."

According to the UK, the exercise is set to simulate the deployment of troops and the transport of supplies such as food and fuel.

Germany's Bundeswehr is set to take part in the exercise with about 10 staff officers, tanker aircraft and logistics support. Britain plans to deploy about 300 military personnel and several fighter jets.

France will contribute some 1,000 soldiers, according to army figures, as well as drone defence systems and short-range surveillance drones.

The other participating countries are Belgium, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. About 35 countries are part of the broader Coalition of the Willing. Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's full-scale invasion for more than four and a half years.