In brief
The Britain‑ and France‑led Coalition of the Willing organized the 11‑country exercise KOALICJA 26.2 in southeastern Poland to showcase multinational readiness for a post‑war deployment to Ukraine. Russian officials warned foreign troops would be targets, while European leaders, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, pushed for a role in the Abu Dhabi talks. Details of the diplomatic format remain unconfirmed.
On Monday, Nov. 9, the Britain‑ and France‑led Coalition of the Willing launched its first multinational exercise, code‑named KOALICJA 26.2, in southeastern Poland near the Ukrainian border. The drill, running until Nov. 22, brought together about 2,800 personnel from 11 nations, including Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Poland, and Turkish units, to test command and control, troop movements, equipment logistics, and joint operations.
The Polish Defense Ministry said Warsaw would host the main part of the exercise and provide logistical support but declined to commit forces to Ukraine after hostilities ended. Turkish units in Istanbul were tasked with maritime mine‑clearance rehearsals.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that any foreign military units deployed to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets, amplifying tensions ahead of the next round of talks between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine scheduled to resume in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
European leaders, meanwhile, urged inclusion in the negotiations. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday that the European Union would attend the Abu Dhabi talks, a claim that has not yet been reflected in the official meeting agenda, leaving the precise format of European participation unclear.
The exercise was framed by British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting as a "real force, ready to help Ukraine once the fighting stops," a statement aimed at signalling European military credibility to both allies and adversaries.
While the drill’s logistics and Russia’s warning are confirmed by Xinhua, the specific role the EU will play in the Abu Dhabi peace negotiations—and whether the multinational force will deploy to Ukraine—remain unconfirmed.
