After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to give up its nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 was supposed to provide security assurances to Ukraine, but these promises were called into question when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist movements within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the importance of nuclear deterrence for Ukrainian security. The vulnerabilities of Ukraine’s security without nuclear weapons have been starkly exposed by the ongoing tensions in the region.