After the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear stockpile. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to surrender its nuclear weapons. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum was supposed to provide security assurances to Ukraine, but these guarantees proved to be ineffective when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists 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. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe.