Thousands of European troops to rehearse Ukraine deployment in event of peace
European nations, led by Britain and France, are conducting military exercises in Poland to prepare for a potential deployment to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. The force is intended to provide security reassurance and aid in rebuilding, rather than engaging in combat.
Why it matters
The exercise represents a significant step in European security planning for a post-conflict Ukraine, despite ongoing tensions with Russia.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, A British paratrooper takes part in a previous Nato training exercise less than 50km (31 miles) from the Russian border in Finland
Britain and France are to lead a military exercise to test a multinational force's ability to deploy to Ukraine, if there is a peace deal.
Nearly 3,000 military personnel from 12 European nations will take part in the rehearsal in neighbouring Poland this month.
Plans for a reassurance force for Ukraine were set out last year as one of the long-term security guarantees being proposed by European nations.
But there are still more questions than answers as to how such a military force might work in practice. Western officials stress that any force sent to Ukraine would not take part in offensive operations or be involved in peacekeeping or ceasefire monitoring missions.
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