After the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited a significant nuclear stockpile. Despite possessing these nuclear weapons, Ukraine decided to disarm due to financial constraints and geopolitical considerations. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum pledged security assurances to Ukraine, but these proved insufficient when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in Ukraine. The current Russia-Ukraine conflict underscores the security vulnerabilities faced by Ukraine without the protection of nuclear deterrence.