Ukraine’s decision to give up its nuclear arsenal after the collapse of the Soviet Union was driven by financial and geopolitical considerations. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 provided assurances of protection from the UK, Russia, and the US. However, Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 exposed the limitations of these security guarantees, emphasizing Ukraine’s susceptibility to continued Russian aggression. The move to disarmament was a significant strategic choice that has had lasting implications for Ukraine’s national security. This decision underscores the complex interplay of international relations and the challenges faced by countries navigating geopolitical pressures.