After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a considerable nuclear arsenal. However, financial constraints and geopolitical concerns led to Ukraine deciding to give up its nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 was supposed to provide security assurances to Ukraine, but the annexation of Crimea by Russia and its support for separatist movements within Ukraine have shown the limitations of such agreements. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the security vulnerabilities faced by Ukraine in the absence of nuclear deterrence. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical landscape in the region and the challenges that Ukraine continues to face.