Thousands of European troops will gather in Poland next week for the Coalition of the Willing's first major military exercise, a rehearsal for deploying a multinational force to Ukraine once the war with Russia ends. The exercise, KOALICJA 26.2, runs from 9 to 22 November and will be jointly led by Britain and France. About 2,800 troops from 11 nations will take part, alongside nearly 2,000 Polish soldiers, at the Nowa Dęba training area in south-eastern Poland, around 100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

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 could help rebuild Ukraine's armed forces after the fighting stops. Britain is sending about 300 personnel, including soldiers from the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade, known as the "Desert Rats", and two RAF Typhoon jets with a Voyager tanker aircraft to practise securing civilian air traffic once Ukrainian airspace reopens. France is sending hundreds of troops, including a unit equipped with about 50 contact drones. Turkey will not send troops to Poland but will lead the force's maritime element, focused on clearing mines from the Black Sea so commercial shipping can resume.

No NATO role and no US troops

The force would not operate under NATO command and would have no peacekeeping or ceasefire-monitoring mandate. Under the Paris Declaration of 6 January 2026, it could deploy only at the request of the Ukrainian government after hostilities end. American troops will not take part in the exercise. The drills come as US, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are due to meet in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November, and as European allies move from political statements to practical preparation for a possible post-war role.

[Source: Military Times](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2026/11/07/european-troops-set-to-train-in-poland-for-postwar-ukraine-deployment/) | [Source: EuropeSays](https://www.europesays.com/poland/35479/)