After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited a substantial nuclear stockpile. However, for financial reasons and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to give up its nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 provided security assurances to Ukraine, but these guarantees were called into question when Russia took control of Crimea and backed separatists in Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the security challenges faced by Ukraine without the protection of nuclear weapons. The vulnerability of Ukrainian security without nuclear deterrence is a significant concern in the ongoing tensions in the region. The repercussions of Ukraine’s decision to disarm continue to reverberate as the country navigates its relationship with Russia and seeks to assert its sovereignty.