This book analyses the impact of external actors, primarily the EU and Russia, on democratisation and authoritarian tendencies in Ukraine and Turkey. The war in Ukraine will continue to affect patterns of cooperation and confrontation in the Black Sea region for years to come, critically undermining Russia as a viable alternative partner for deeper political and economic integration, but also revealing that the EU has only partially succeeded in stabilising its neighbourhood. In this volume international contributors consider future EU and Russian strategy in the region and the impact on domestic and foreign policy in two countries seen by the EU as “disputed Europeans”. The book will appeal to those working on Eastern Europe and the Middle East, the EU and Russia, scholars of international relations, democratisation studies East European Politics and area studies, and Eurasian studies. It is also aimed at foreign policy analysts, journalists, policy-makers and diplomats.