Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced that Poland will host joint military exercises between France and the United Kingdom in September 2026. The event is being organised by the «Coalition of the Resolute» to prepare for providing security guarantees to Ukraine after the war. Poland will provide logistical support to its allies and is considering the possibility of a permanent presence of European troops on its territory.
Briefly about the main points
- Poland will host joint exercises between France and the UK in September.
- The training is being organised by the «Coalition of the Resolute» to ensure Ukraine’s security.
- Poland is preparing for a possible permanent presence of allied troops.
- The Integrated Coalition for European Ballistic Missile Defence has been established.
- The next meeting of the «Coalition of the Resolute» will take place in Ukraine.
Preparations for the exercises in Poland: decisions and participants
Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk announced that in the autumn of 2026 the country would host joint military exercises involving French and British troops. This decision was taken on 13 July at meetings of the «Coalition of the Resolute» in Paris, where 40 delegations were present, including Moldova.
The exercises are international in nature and are aimed at preparing allies to provide real security guarantees to Ukraine once the war is over. Poland will provide logistical support to French and British troops.
The purpose of the exercises and the strategic context
The main aim of the joint exercises is to prepare European allies to fulfil their security guarantees for Ukraine and the region. Donald Tusk emphasised that the decision to hold the exercises was a response to Russia’s latest threats and the missile strike on Kyiv.
Poland is also preparing for a possible permanent presence of allied troops on its territory, which could mark a new phase in military cooperation in the region. French President Emmanuel Macron and the United Kingdom have backed the idea of the exercises and have stated their readiness to continue supporting Ukraine.
Establishment of an Integrated Anti-Ballistic Defence Coalition
At a meeting in Paris, ten European states, including Ukraine, announced the formation of an Integrated Anti-Ballistic Defence Coalition. Its aim is to develop Europe’s joint anti-ballistic capabilities, which could strengthen the continent’s defence capabilities regardless of NATO.
This initiative reflects the desire of European countries to achieve greater autonomy in matters of security and in responding to threats from Russia.
Participants’ reactions and next steps
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the allies for their decision to hold the exercises and announced the next meeting of the «Coalition of the Resolute» in Ukraine.
There has been no official reaction from Russia to the intensification of military cooperation as yet, but tensions in the region are expected to rise. It is not yet clear exactly which units will take part in the exercises, or whether the presence of allied troops in Poland will become permanent.
European Defence: Trends and Prospects
The holding of joint exercises and the formation of an anti-ballistic missile coalition demonstrate the intention of European countries to strengthen their own defence capabilities and reduce their dependence on external partners. This could be the first step towards a long-term military presence of the allies in Poland and, potentially, in other countries in the region.
How events unfold from here will depend on Russia’s actions, the effectiveness of new initiatives and the willingness of European countries to invest in collective security.
