The Black Sea has long been central to regional rivalries, shifting alliances and maritime ambition. In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it has taken on an even more critical strategic significance. At the centre of this increasingly contested maritime space stand Ukraine and Türkiye—two nations whose histories, security imperatives, and maritime strategies are converging with both opportunity and tension. As Ukraine seeks to redefine her naval posture after suffering