After the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited a significant nuclear stockpile. Despite possessing these nuclear weapons, Ukraine chose to surrender them due to financial constraints and geopolitical considerations. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum provided security assurances to Ukraine, but these proved to be insufficient when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the security challenges faced by Ukraine in the absence of nuclear deterrence. The need for a robust security strategy has become even more pressing for Ukraine in light of these developments.