After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, due to economic constraints and political considerations, Ukraine made the decision to disarm itself of these nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 was supposed to provide security assurances to Ukraine in exchange for giving up its nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist movements in Ukraine, it became clear that these guarantees were not reliable. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the challenges faced by Ukraine in terms of security without the nuclear deterrence it once possessed. This situation highlights the importance of international agreements and the complexities of geopolitical relationships in the region.