After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear stockpile. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical pressures, Ukraine made the decision to relinquish its nuclear weapons. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum was supposed to provide security assurances to Ukraine, but these guarantees were called into question when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist movements in Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the vulnerabilities that Ukraine faces in terms of security without the nuclear deterrence it once possessed. This situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region. The repercussions of Ukraine’s decision to disarm continue to reverberate, with ongoing implications for its national security.