Koalition der Willigen: Deutsche Stabsoffiziere und Tankflugzeuge für Ukraine-Übung

The German Armed Forces will participate in the first military exercise of the "Coalition of the Willing" to support Ukraine, involving approximately ten staff officers, tank aircraft, and logistics. Germany will join the exercise as a "sign of unity with our partners," scheduled for November in Poland, Romanian airspace, and the western Black Sea, according to a Defense Ministry spokesman quoted by the German Press Agency.

This exercise will test the operational readiness of the multinational force of Ukraine's allies, currently led by France and the United Kingdom, aimed at securing a possible ceasefire with Russia. The coalition comprises around 35 nations in total. The Bundeswehr will provide up to two transport aircraft of the A400M type for air refueling, designated "Koalicja 2026" by Germany, which will operate from Germany.

Additionally, Germany will offer logistical support for troop movements into the training area. The formation of this force was decided at a Ukraine summit in Berlin in December 2025, with French President Emmanuel Macron declaring it ready for deployment in mid-July and announcing early exercises in the neighboring countries of Russia's attacked Ukraine for the autumn.

Germany initially hesitated but eventually agreed to participate, but the specifics of Germany's contribution remain unclear. The Bundesregierung and the German Bundestag will decide on the scope and nature of Germany's involvement. The scale of the exercise in terms of the number of soldiers participating is still unclear. British Defence Minister Wes Streeting mentioned "thousands of soldiers" during a visit to Washington in early October.

The Times recently reported a total of 1,500 French, British, and German soldiers, alongside Polish forces, participating in the exercise. However, there is no confirmation of this figure.