After the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear stockpile. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to relinquish these nuclear weapons. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum was supposed to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, but these guarantees were called into question when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the security vulnerabilities that Ukraine faces without the protection of nuclear deterrence. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region.