Anglo-French force to rehearse Ukraine deployment in Poland
Britain and France will lead Exercise Koalicja in Poland this month, rehearsing how a European force could deploy rapidly to Ukraine after a peace deal. Some 2,800 personnel will take part, including 1,500 French troops and 300 from Britain’s 7th Light Mechanised Brigade. Western officials said troops would be permitted to return fire if attacked by Russian forces.
“Clearly we will protect our forces against any aggression,” one official said, stressing the posture would be “defensive in nature”. The force would be almost exclusively European and would not rely on American systems such as Starlink; the US has joined discussions but is not contributing troops. Officials insist it would not conduct peacekeeping or ceasefire monitoring, operate under Nato command or deploy to the front line. Its purpose would be reassurance and rebuilding Ukraine’s armed forces.