After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Ukraine acquired a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, due to economic constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine decided to give up its nuclear weapons. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum offered security assurances to Ukraine, but the annexation of Crimea by Russia and its support for separatists in Ukraine have shown that these guarantees are not always reliable. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the importance of nuclear deterrence for Ukrainian security. The vulnerability of Ukraine without nuclear weapons has become apparent in the ongoing tensions with Russia.