Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, the country made the decision to disarm due to economic challenges and concerns over international security. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 was supposed to provide assurances of protection, yet these promises were called into question when Russia seized Crimea and backed separatist movements within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the vulnerabilities faced by Ukraine in the absence of nuclear weapons as a deterrent. Ukraine’s strategic position and national security have been thrust into the spotlight as it navigates these ongoing challenges.