After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was left with a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, the country made the decision to give up these nuclear weapons primarily due to financial constraints and concerns about geopolitical stability. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 offered assurances of security to Ukraine, but these guarantees were called into question when Russia took control of Crimea and backed separatist movements within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the security challenges faced by Ukraine in the absence of nuclear deterrence. The complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region have left Ukraine vulnerable to external threats. The decision to relinquish its nuclear weapons has had far-reaching implications for Ukraine’s national security and has sparked debates about the effectiveness of international agreements in safeguarding sovereign nations. The ongoing tensions serve as a stark reminder of the importance of robust defense mechanisms in an increasingly volatile global landscape.