Next week, a large number of European troops will gather in Poland to conduct the Coalition of the Willing’s inaugural major military exercise, which serves as a practice for sending a multinational force to Ukraine once the conflict with Russia concludes. The drills, known as KOALICJA 26.2, aim to prepare the Multinational Force-Ukraine (MNF-U) for postwar security missions, including infrastructure protection and mine clearance.
The timing of these maneuvers is critical. The military training arrives just as U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian negotiators prepare to meet in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, according to special envoy Steve Witkoff. This high-stakes diplomatic summit follows a turbulent year of peace talks that only regained momentum in September after envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow and subsequently traveled to Kyiv.
While the diplomats talk, the soldiers prepare. This isn’t just a theoretical exercise; it is a practical test of how a diverse group of nations can function as a single, cohesive military unit. But there is a significant distinction to be made regarding the nature of this force. The MNF-U will not operate under NATO command, nor does it hold a peacekeeping or ceasefire-monitoring mandate. Instead, its purpose is to strengthen the Ukrainian military's independent capabilities once a ceasefire is established and at Kyiv’s request.
Britain and France lead 2,800 troops through multi-national drills
Coordinated by Britain and France, the KOALICJA 26.2 exercise will run from November 9 to 22. The operation brings together 2,800 personnel from 11 different nations, conducting synchronized activities across Poland, France, and Turkey. While the coalition represents a broad European front, the United States will not participate in these specific drills.
The participating nations include Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Britain. Each nation brings a specific strategic component to the table. For example, the British Army’s 7th Light Mechanised Brigade, known as the “Desert Rats,” is sending 300 personnel to practice logistical movements. Meanwhile, France is deploying hundreds of troops, including a specialized unit equipped with approximately 50 “contact drones.”
The logistical complexity is immense. Warsaw has agreed to manage the movement of MNF-U troops following the war, though Poland will not deploy its own soldiers into Ukrainian territory. Instead, nearly 2,000 Polish soldiers will participate in the training exercises to coordinate with the international coalition. Here is how the force is structured across its key operational domains:
| Operational Domain | Lead/Participant Nation | Primary Mission Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Land & Logistics | Britain / Poland | Rehearsing troop movement and logistical supply chains. |
| Air & Drone Tech | France | Testing “contact drone” deployment and aerial coordination. |
| Maritime Security | Turkey | Testing mine clearance to reopen commercial shipping routes. |
| Command & Control | UK / France | Integrating multi-national components into a single force. |
Security guarantees face Russian opposition and logistical hurdles
The ultimate goal of the MNF-U is to provide “cast-iron” security guarantees, a term used by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to describe the necessity of postwar stability. The force is intended to help protect the skies, secure critical infrastructure, and clear the Black Sea of mines to allow commercial shipping to return to Ukrainian ports. However, the political reality remains fraught with tension.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been explicit in his opposition. In September 2025, he warned that any Western forces deployed in Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets. This creates a massive strategic hurdle: the force must be strong enough to deter renewed aggression without inadvertently triggering a wider escalation between NATO and Russia. Because the MNF-U is not a NATO-led entity, it seeks to operate within this narrow corridor of deterrence.
Estimating the actual size of the postwar force remains difficult. While Britain and France have indicated they are prepared to contribute roughly 5,000 troops each, analysts suggest a much larger footprint may be required. To maintain even a minimal “tripwire” presence, the Center for Strategic and International Studies assessed that between 10,000 and 25,000 troops would be necessary. Ed Arnold, a former British military officer and senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Military Times that because only one-third of any given force is ready for the frontline at any one time, the use of rotations drives that figure much higher.
“This exercise shows the UK is stepping up, alongside France and our allies, to prepare for the day peace comes to Ukraine. This isn’t a hypothetical plan; it’s a real force, ready to help Ukraine once the fighting stops,” British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said in a ministry release.
The economic necessity of maritime stability and infrastructure
The restoration of Ukraine’s ports is not merely a local concern; it is a prerequisite for stabilizing global grain and commodity markets. Turkey’s role in standing up the maritime element in Istanbul is a direct response to this need, focusing on the arrangements required for maritime mine clearance.
The ability to protect critical infrastructure—such as the power grids that President Zelenskyy noted are currently under constant battering—is equally vital for the eventual reconstruction of the Ukrainian economy.
The drills will conclude on November 22, shortly after the Abu Dhabi negotiations.
For more detailed updates on the diplomatic proceedings, follow the developments from the official French Ministry of Armed Forces statements regarding coalition readiness.
