European militaries are practising how they would move into Ukraine if a ceasefire takes hold, with French and British led drills in Poland focused on speed of deployment.

About 2,800 troops from ten European countries are involved in the exercises, which are designed to show whether a multinational force could arrive quickly after any halt in fighting. Planners are treating the scenario as a contingency rather than a signal that a deal is imminent.

The training comes as diplomatic talk of a broader settlement continues in Washington and European capitals, while combat on the ground shows little sign of a lasting pause. Kyiv has long sought stronger security guarantees from European partners, and capitals that back Ukraine want reassurance they could act together if asked to help police a future truce.

Officials frame the Poland drills as preparation, not a commitment to send combat troops into an active war. Even so, the visible rehearsal underscores how seriously European governments are planning for the day after a ceasefire, including logistics, command links and the political hurdle of putting soldiers on Ukrainian soil with Moscow still armed nearby.