After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear stockpile, which it later chose to surrender, citing financial constraints and geopolitical concerns. The decision to relinquish its nuclear weapons was influenced by the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which assured Ukraine of security guarantees. However, the annexation of Crimea by Russia and its backing of separatist movements in Ukraine have exposed the limitations of these promises. The current Russia-Ukraine conflict underscores the vulnerabilities faced by Ukraine in the absence of a nuclear deterrent. The strategic implications of Ukraine’s nuclear disarmament are now being scrutinized amidst ongoing tensions in the region.