After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine took possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, the country decided to give up these nuclear weapons due to economic constraints and the changing geopolitical landscape. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994, which provided security assurances to Ukraine, was not honored when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist movements in Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores Ukraine’s security challenges without the backing of nuclear capabilities. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by Ukraine in the absence of nuclear deterrence.