Updated

Thousands of European troops are set to rehearse a possible deployment to Ukraine in the event of a peace settlement, BBC World reported on November 3, 2026. Western officials stressed that any force sent to Ukraine would not take part in any offensive operations, and the rehearsals are framed as preparation for a post-conflict security role rather than a combat mission. France 24 reported that about 2,800 troops from 10 European countries will take part in a military exercise in southeastern Poland from November 9 to 22, the first such exercise for the multinational force. Led by France and Britain, the force aims to bolster Ukraine's security after a potential ceasefire without taking on an offensive role. The earlier report gave no dates, locations or participating countries, and the exercise remains tied to the wider US-brokered effort to reach a Russia-Ukraine peace settlement.