Coalition of the Willing: Poland hosts first joint drills for Ukraine

Poland is hosting the first military exercise for the Coalition of the Willing, a group formed to support Ukraine. The drills, designated Exercise Koalicja 2026, began on November 9 and will run through November 22. France and the United Kingdom are leading the operation.

The exercise involves 2,800 military personnel from eleven countries. The primary objective is to test how to secure lasting peace after the war ends. Participants are simulating the deployment of troops and the movement of supplies, including food and fuel.

France is providing approximately 1,000 soldiers for the drills. French armed forces are also deploying short-range surveillance drones and systems designed to counter drones. The United Kingdom is contributing around 300 military personnel and several fighter jets.

Germany is sending approximately ten staff officers from the Bundeswehr. German forces are also providing aircraft for in-flight refuelling and logistical support. Other participating nations include Belgium, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden.

The Coalition of the Willing was created in early 2025 to support Ukraine. A decision to establish a multinational force followed a summit in Berlin in December 2025. The wider coalition comprises around 35 nations, though only eleven are participating in this specific exercise.

The drills coincide with two scheduled meetings on Ukraine support. The Ukraine Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format, will meet at NATO headquarters in Brussels on November 17. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Berlin on November 19.