Macron announces major military drills as allies prepare security guarantees for Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron, President of France (photo: flickr.com)
Joint large-scale military exercises by the Coalition of the Willing will take place in October and November 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron said during a coalition meeting in Kyiv.
The French leader linked the exercises to the main areas of support for Kyiv from its allies. Above all, this concerns preparations for security guarantees for Ukraine after the war ends.
As Macron explained, such large-scale maneuvers are intended to demonstrate the coalition countries' readiness to fulfill their commitments and act decisively after hostilities end.
"This is one of the key elements for future negotiations, once Ukraine makes the decision to hold them. It is very important we work clearly and collectively on these aspects," the French president emphasized.
An agreement to hold such exercises was reached during the previous meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in July.
It was then announced that around 1,500 British and French troops would arrive in Poland in September to take part in international military exercises.
Polish Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda also made a statement on the matter. According to him, during the exercises, troops will practice deploying personnel and military equipment.
The Coalition of the Willing meeting on August 24 was held in a hybrid format.
On the occasion of Independence Day, the allies pledged a wide range of weapons to Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already summarized the results of the Coalition of the Willing summit on August 24.
