Ukraine made a significant decision to surrender its substantial nuclear weapons following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, driven by economic and strategic considerations. The Budapest Memorandum signed in 1994 assured Ukraine security assurances from the UK, Russia, and the US. Nevertheless, Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 exposed the limitations of these commitments, exposing Ukraine to continued Russian hostility. This development underscored Ukraine’s precarious position in the face of persistent Russian aggression.