European countries practise for possible mission in Ukraine
Around 2,800 troops from eleven countries are training in Poland to support Ukraine after a possible end to the war.
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An international military exercise for a possible European security mission in Ukraine began in Poland on Monday. The exercise runs until 22 November and mainly tests logistics, command and cooperation between participating countries.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, the Koalicja exercise is led by the United Kingdom and France. The ministry says that around 2,800 troops from eleven countries are taking part. It lists the Netherlands as a participant, alongside countries including Belgium, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.
The training is taking place mainly near Nowa Dęba in south-eastern Poland, around 100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. The ministry also reports exercises involving air and maritime elements. According to that description, Turkey is testing the maritime component in Istanbul, including mine clearance to enable the return of commercial shipping to Ukrainian ports.
The participating countries are preparing for the Multinational Force Ukraine, the military arm of the so-called Coalition of the Willing. After the fighting ends, it is intended to support Ukraine with the security of its airspace and seas and with rebuilding the Ukrainian armed forces.
The British government says the mission would only enter Ukraine once the fighting had ended and the Ukrainian government had requested it. According to London, the force would not be tasked with monitoring a ceasefire. The exercise is therefore not an indication that a peace agreement already exists; it is preparation for a possible future scenario.
For the Netherlands, the exercise is relevant because the country is formally taking part in the preparations and because a European mission could affect defence capacity, transport, air defence and political decision-making. According to Deutschlandfunk, Germany is participating with a low two-digit number of troops. The size of the Dutch contribution to this exercise has not been disclosed.
The political significance is greater than the military planning alone. European countries want to show that they are capable of organising a security role around Ukraine independently. At the same time, any deployment remains dependent on a future political agreement and Ukraine's consent. The exercise therefore proves that planning is under way, not that a mission will actually take place.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Koalicja exercise began in Poland on 9 November.
- Around 2,800 troops from eleven countries are training in logistics, command and cooperation.
- The Netherlands is taking part.
- Any MNF-U mission could only be deployed after the fighting had ended and at Ukraine's request.
Left
Arguments From a left-wing perspective, European support for Ukraine should above all contribute to a lasting peace agreement and the protection of civilians, rather than to an open-ended military commitment.
Values International law, a diplomatic solution and restraint regarding military escalation.
Consequences A mission without a clear political mandate could internationalise the war further; a clearly defined mission could instead create room for recovery and security.
Centre
Arguments The exercise is a practical precaution that enables European countries to act quickly if a credible peace agreement is reached.
Values Reliability towards allies, institutional oversight and feasibility.
Consequences Preparation increases the credibility of European security guarantees, but deployment should remain dependent on parliamentary and political approval.
Right
Arguments Europe must build sufficient military capacity of its own because the continent's security cannot depend exclusively on the United States.
Values Deterrence, national security and responsibility for allies.
Consequences A credible European force could deter Russia, but it would require higher defence spending over the long term and clear limits to the mission.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts appear in a British government publication and have been independently confirmed by Deutschlandfunk. The text clearly distinguishes between the exercise and any possible future mission.
- confirmed The Koalicja exercise began on 9 November 2026 and runs until 22 November. — GOV.UK explicitly states this period. source
- confirmed Around 2,800 troops from eleven countries are taking part. — GOV.UK names 2,800 troops and eleven participating countries. source
- confirmed The Netherlands is among the participants. — The Netherlands appears on GOV.UK's list of participants. source
- confirmed The future force would only be deployed after the fighting had ended and at Ukraine's request. — This appears in the British government's description of the MNF-U. source
Editor's note
The exercise and Dutch participation have been confirmed. A specific Dutch personnel figure and a decision on a future mission are absent.Sources
- UK to lead multinational military training exercise to prepare for peace in Ukraine — UK Ministry of Defence
- Polen: Multinationale Ukraine-Truppe: Erste Übung mit 2.800 Soldaten startet heute — Deutschlandfunk
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „oekraïne polen”
- NOS — „oekraïne polen”
- Het Parool — „oekraïne polen”