At least 1,500 British, French, and German troops will join Polish forces for exercises in Poland in November to prepare for a possible deployment to Ukraine if a ceasefire with Russia is reached, The Times reported.
The drills will focus on the practical requirements of establishing a multinational force in Ukraine to help deter renewed Russian aggression.
Troops will rehearse moving personnel and supplies into position, then sustaining operations through deliveries of essentials such as food and fuel.
A British defense source told the newspaper that the scenario would involve forces from several countries operating together in a shared area but declined to provide further details.
Beyond testing military readiness, the exercises would demonstrate European unity in confronting the Russian threat and maintaining support for Ukraine, a senior Polish official said.
Ceasefire Planning and Russian Threats
The drills come as the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries led by the UK and France, develops plans to provide security guarantees for Kyiv.
These include a possible military deployment to help uphold a future ceasefire with Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that Western forces deployed to Ukraine would be considered “legitimate” targets for the Russian military.
Preparations are also taking place amid concerns about potential Russian action against NATO members.
In June, Latvian intelligence indicated that Moscow could be preparing a military “provocation” against the Baltic states or Poland.
According to the assessment, Russia currently lacks the capacity to open a second front but could use hybrid operations or limited military action, including missile or drone strikes, to pressure allies over their support for Ukraine.
