After the demise of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a considerable nuclear arsenal. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical challenges, 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 seized Crimea and backed separatist movements within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the vulnerabilities faced by Ukraine in terms of security, especially in the absence of nuclear deterrence. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe.