After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited a substantial nuclear stockpile but decided to give them up due to financial constraints and geopolitical uncertainties. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum had assured security assurances to Ukraine, but these were called into question when Russia took over Crimea and backed separatists in Ukraine. The current Russia-Ukraine conflict underscores the security weaknesses of Ukraine without nuclear deterrence. This situation underscores the importance of global geopolitics and national security in the region.