After the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited a significant nuclear stockpile. However, due to financial burdens and geopolitical risks, Ukraine decided to relinquish these nuclear weapons. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum promised security guarantees to Ukraine, which were put to the test when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in Ukraine. The current Russia-Ukraine conflict underscores the vulnerabilities of Ukrainian security without nuclear deterrence. The situation serves as a reminder of the complex geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe and the challenges faced by Ukraine in ensuring its sovereignty and territorial integrity.