'the book persuasively explains Russia’s ambitious foreign policy under Putin and can be a valuable reference for researchers and casual readers. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the rationale behind it, support the argument defended throughout the book: Russian foreign policy revolves around preventing the eastward expansion of NATO. ... Overall, the book illustrates new perspectives on Russia’s actions and its position on the grand chessboard of Eurasia and beyond.'--Halil Ibrahim Buyukmehmetoglu, International Affairs