- Published
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.
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Britain → publish → Ukraine
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.
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Plans → take → nations
But there are still more questions than answers as to how such a military force might work in practice.
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force → be → 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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force → stress → missions
Nor would they be operating under the command of Nato or on the front line.
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they → operate → line
Officials say their presence would be to provide reassurance to Ukraine and to help rebuild its armed forces.
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presence → say → forces
The US has been involved in discussions, but is not contributing to the mission.
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US → involve → mission
Russia has already voiced opposition to foreign troops being stationed in Ukraine and, last year, President Vladimir Putin said they would be "legitimate targets".
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they → voice → Ukraine
Western officials have declined to spell out the rules of engagement if any international troops were to be attacked in Ukraine.
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troops → decline → Ukraine
Though they say the force would be able to defend itself.
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force → say → itself
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the exercise showed Britain, France and their allies were stepping up preparation for the day when peace came to Ukraine.
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peace → say → Ukraine
He said: "This is not a hypothetical plan, it's a real force, ready to help Ukraine once the fighting stops."
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fighting → say → Ukraine
Lt Gen Tom Bateman, the UK commander of the Multi National Force – Ukraine (MNF-U), said the exercise represented an important step in translating political commitments into credible military readiness.
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exercise → say → readiness
He said it was a "real, capable, readily deployable force that represented a serious commitment from Coalition of the Willing nations to Ukraine's long-term stability and security".
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that → say → stability
Exercise Koalicja - which takes place from 9-22 November - will be a rehearsal of how to move, protect and supply a force in Ukraine.
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which → take → Ukraine
It will also be a test of their command and control to ensure troops from different countries can work together.
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troops → ensure → countries
Some 2,800 military personnel will take part across land, sea and air, with the UK contribution including 300 troops and a pair of RAF Typhoons.
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contribution → take → Typhoons
Fighter jets will simulate how they would reassure commercial aircraft once Ukraine's skies can be reopened.
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skies → simulate → aircraft
Turkey has agreed to lead the maritime mission, with the eventual goal to clear mines and allow the resumption of trade in the Black Sea.
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Turkey → agree → Sea
As well as the UK, troops will come from France, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.
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troops → come → France
However, Western officials could not comment on the final make-up and shape of the force that could be deployed to Ukraine if the fighting stops.
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fighting → comment → Ukraine
In the past, military experts have suggested that Western nations might have to send tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine to guarantee its security.
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nations → suggest → security
Officials acknowledge that the countries' commitment and contributions will depend on the circumstances of a cessation of hostilities and individual nations' political decisions.
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commitment → acknowledge → hostilities
It is also unclear what training role Western forces could provide to battle hardened Ukraine.
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forces → provide → Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers are already in high demand training Nato forces - passing on their expertise in drone warfare.
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soldiers → train → warfare
Above all, Russia has shown no sign of wanting to end its war.
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Russia → show → war
The Aporia
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