UK and France to lead major exercise rehearsing Ukraine deployment in event of peace deal

Britain and France are to lead a military exercise testing the ability of a multinational force to deploy to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal, with nearly 3,000 military personnel from 12 European nations taking part in the rehearsal in Poland this month. The drill, known as Exercise Koalicja, runs from 9 to 22 November and will rehearse how to move, protect and supply a force in Ukraine. It will also test command and control arrangements to ensure troops from different countries can work together. Some 2,800 personnel will take part across land, sea and air, with the UK contributing 300 troops and a pair of RAF Typhoons. Plans for a reassurance force for Ukraine were set out last year as one of the long-term security guarantees proposed by European nations. Western officials stress that any force sent to Ukraine would not take part in offensive operations, nor be involved in peacekeeping or ceasefire monitoring missions. It would not operate under Nato command or on the front line. Officials say its presence would be to provide reassurance to Ukraine and help rebuild its armed forces. The US has been involved in discussions but is not contributing to the mission. Russia has already voiced opposition to foreign troops being stationed in Ukraine, and last year President Vladimir Putin said they would be "legitimate targets". Western officials have declined to spell out the rules of engagement if international troops were attacked in Ukraine, though they say the force would be able to defend itself. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the exercise showed Britain, France and their allies were stepping up preparation for the day when peace came to Ukraine. "This is not a hypothetical plan, it's a real force, ready to help Ukraine once the fighting stops," he said. Lt Gen Tom Bateman, the UK commander of the Multi National Force – Ukraine (MNF-U), said the exercise represented an important step in translating political commitments into credible military readiness. He described it as a "real, capable, readily deployable force that represented a serious commitment from Coalition of the Willing nations to Ukraine's long-term stability and security". Fighter jets taking part in the exercise will simulate how they would reassure commercial aircraft once Ukraine's skies can be reopened. Turkey has agreed to lead the maritime mission, with the eventual goal of clearing mines and allowing the resumption of trade in the Black Sea. Troops will come from the UK, France, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. Western officials could not comment on the final make-up and shape of the force that could be deployed to Ukraine if the fighting stops. Military experts have previously suggested Western nations might have to send tens of thousands of troops to guarantee Ukraine's security. Officials acknowledge that countries' commitments and contributions will depend on the circumstances of a cessation of hostilities and individual nations' political decisions. It is also unclear what training role Western forces could provide to a battle-hardened Ukraine, whose soldiers are already in high demand training Nato forces and passing on their expertise in drone warfare. Above all, Russia has shown no sign of wanting to end its war.