After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear stockpile. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical uncertainties, Ukraine made the decision to surrender these nuclear weapons. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum was supposed to provide security assurances to Ukraine, but these proved to be insufficient when Russia annexed Crimea and provided support to separatists within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the vulnerabilities that Ukraine faces in terms of security without the presence of nuclear deterrence. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of having strong security measures in place to protect against external threats.