After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to disarm itself of these nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 was supposed to provide security assurances to Ukraine, but these guarantees were called into question when Russia illegally 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 protection of a nuclear deterrent. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in Eastern Europe.