Eleven members of the Coalition of the Willing are participating in the coalition’s first military exercise, “Koalicja 2026,” in Poland from November 9 to November 22.

• Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom are devoting 2,800 troops, mostly from France and the UK, to simulate deployments in support of Ukraine after it reaches a peace agreement with Russia.
• The coalition, which consists of 35 nations, exists separately from nato and does not include the United States.

Germany’s contribution to “Koalicja 2026” is conspicuously small: two aircraft and 10 officers.

• This is despite the fact that Germany contributes more funds to Ukraine than almost any other nation and the fact that Chancellor Merz threatened to block the European Union’s upcoming budget yesterday should it not include financial support for Ukraine.

“Koalicja 2026” isn’t the first time Germany has sent mixed signals on its support for Ukraine in general and its plans for postwar deployment in Ukraine in particular.

• In 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested sending troops to Ukraine, but German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shut down the idea, saying, “There will be no ground troops, no soldiers sent by European countries or nato states.”
• Merz stated in January that Germany had yet to decide “on the type and extent of the German contribution” to a potential postwar troop deployment to deter Russia while Britain and France essentially committed to deployments at around the same time.
• Is it possible Germany isn’t as strong a supporter of Ukraine as it claims?
• In 2023, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote, “I believe Germany has already given Ukraine to Russia in a secret deal.”

Germany believes in uniting Europe’s militaries to defend Europe, as do other members of the Coalition of the Willing, yet it has little interest in protecting Ukraine.