Poland to host Franco-British drills for Ukraine peace guarantees

Poland will host French and British military exercises this autumn to prepare security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal or ceasefire with Russia. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the drills following a summit in Paris of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of nations backing Ukraine's defence.

The manoeuvres signal a shift towards European strategic autonomy on the continent's eastern border. For European defence planners and allied governments, Warsaw's infrastructure build-up represents a long-term investment anchor. By hosting troops from major European powers, Poland is positioning itself as the central logistical hub for a post-conflict security architecture.

"Security is not born from declarations. It is born from cooperation," Tusk said. He added that the exercises would prepare the coalition to provide "real security guarantees for Ukraine", welcoming the decision to host British and French forces alongside American ones.

Beyond the autumn drills, Tusk stated Poland is preparing logistically and financially for the permanent stationing of additional allied forces. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed Warsaw is ready for a permanent French or British presence, framing it as part of Europe taking greater responsibility for NATO's eastern flank.

This planned expansion builds on Poland's existing role as a primary forward operating base. The country currently hosts around 10,000 US troops on a rotational basis. In 2023, the US established its first permanent garrison in Poland, followed by a missile defence base the next year.

Warsaw is already anticipating further American investment in its military infrastructure. Last month, the Polish government formally requested a new permanent US base. This followed a pledge by President Donald Trump to send 5,000 additional American troops to the country.

While Polish officials, including the president's chief foreign policy aide Marcin Przydacz and deputy defence minister Cezary Tomczyk, claim Washington has given the "green light" for the new base, no official US announcement has been made.

Poland has firmly ruled out sending its own peacekeeping forces into Ukrainian territory. Instead, Tusk has designated Poland as the "lead country" in providing logistical support for any peace deal, a role that demands ongoing coordination with allied commands.