Germany at Ukraine Exercise: Coalition of the Willing in Poland

The exercise in Poland is part of building a multinational, European-led force that is to be supported by the United States. According to information from Paris, the coalition comprises around 35 states that are preparing security guarantees for Ukraine should a ceasefire come about in the Russian war of aggression. The planned force is intended to help ensure Ukraine's security after an end to the Russian war of aggression.

Poland as the exercise's hub

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had declared on Tuesday that, in addition to Poland, France and Great Britain would also take part in the exercises. The maneuvers in Poland should prepare the coalition for concrete security guarantees for Ukraine, but also for the region, Tusk said. Poland is one of Ukraine's neighboring countries and thus plays a central role for the planned deployment.

Polish Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that his country was also prepared for a permanent stationing of troops from France and Great Britain. He said: "Wenn wir mehr Verantwortung für die NATO-Ostgrenze tragen, dann kommen die, die weit davon entfernt leben, nach Polen." With this, Warsaw signaled its readiness to serve as a logistical hub for the Coalition of the Willing.

Chancellor Merz stated that the "Coalition of the Willing" was ready to play an "important role" in security guarantees for Ukraine after a ceasefire, and to do so in close coordination with the United States. At the same time, he pointed to domestic political responsibility: "Über Art und Umfang des deutschen Beitrags wird die Bundesregierung und der Deutsche Bundestag ebenfalls entscheiden."

First a small exercise, later larger maneuvers

French President Emmanuel Macron had spoken of joint exercises for the first time on Monday and declared that the force was already ready for deployment. At a meeting of the approximately 35 Ukraine allies in Paris, which had gone back to a French proposal, the participants had agreed on the first maneuvers of the multinational Ukraine force.

According to information from the negotiations, the first exercise in Poland is a smaller maneuver, initially intended to test the command structures and decision-making processes. Only after that are larger exercises planned, which are to test the cooperation of soldiers from more than a dozen countries.

Setting the course on Friday in Nörvenich and Brühl

The question of how Germany will specifically participate is to be discussed on Friday at a meeting of the Franco-German Security and Defense Council at the Nörvenich air base. Immediately afterward, the ministers of both countries will meet for a council session in Brühl near Cologne. In addition to Merz and Macron, numerous other ministers will also take part in the talks in Brühl.

The formation of the multinational force under European leadership to secure a possible ceasefire had already been decided in December at a Ukraine summit in Berlin. Since then, political and military coordination has been underway between the capitals involved, with the USA envisioned as a supporter but not as part of the European leadership role.

With the now-announced participation of Germany in the exercise in Poland, the federal government is executing a U-turn compared to the signals from Tuesday. At the same time, it remains open which capabilities — for example, reconnaissance, logistics, or personnel — the Bundeswehr will contribute to the multinational Ukraine force. The final decision on this is to be made by the Bundestag.