Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to disarm. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 provided assurances of security, but these were called into question when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist movements in Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the vulnerabilities faced by Ukraine without the nuclear deterrent it once possessed. This situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe and the challenges faced by Ukraine in ensuring its national security.