In brief

• About 2,800 troops from ten European countries will take part in a drill in Nowa Dęba, Poland, from November 9 to 22.
• The exercise is the first of the Multinational Force – Ukraine, which would deploy only after a ceasefire.
• NATO is informed but not directly involved, and the United States has a limited role.

First drill of the multinational force

Roughly 2,800 troops from ten European states are set to take part in an exercise in Nowa Dęba, a town in southeastern Poland about 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border (Polen - Multinationale Ukraine-Truppe: Erste Übung mit 2.800 Soldaten ab Montag – Deutschlandfunk). The drill is scheduled to run from November 9 to 22 (Після майже двох років самітів: Коаліція охочих проведе в Польщі перше навчання на випадок припинення вогню в Україні – Espreso) (European force to hold first Ukraine support exercise in Poland – France 24). France will supply the largest share, 1,100 soldiers, while Britain will send 300.

Besides France and Britain, the participating countries include Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Belgium (У Польщі пройдуть перші безпрецедентні військові навчання "коаліції охочих" – Українська правда). Ukrainian military personnel are also expected to join (Europejskie wojska pojawią się w Polsce. Chodzi o przyszłość Ukrainy – Wirtualna Polska).

Purpose of the exercise

The formation is the Multinational Force – Ukraine (MNF-U), created in 2025 with an operational headquarters in Paris. It would be deployed only after a ceasefire ending Russia's full-scale invasion is agreed, and it has no offensive mission. French army officials said the aim is to prepare for the period after fighting stops.

The exercise is meant to test command arrangements and logistics for moving troops and equipment across several European borders, a demanding task (Koalicja chętnych rusza z ćwiczeniami. Prawie 3 tys. żołnierzy w Nowej Dębie – RMF24). Communication compatibility between contributing forces will also be checked. Countering drones is a key element, since they remain a major vulnerability even once hostilities end.

Who is involved and what is not

NATO has been informed about the drill but will not take part directly. The United States is not part of the coalition and plays a limited role in the force. Commentary in the French press noted that the exercise will not include tanks or missile displays.

Background

The drill follows nearly two years of meetings and summits of the so-called Coalition of the Willing (Wielkie ćwiczenia wojskowe w Polsce. Wezmą w nich udział żołnierze z Ukrainy – Bankier.pl). Early in 2026, Macron, Zelensky and then-British prime minister Starmer signed a letter of intent in Paris on sending such a unit. Deployment remains conditional on a ceasefire agreement with Russia.