After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear stockpile. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to surrender its nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 was supposed to provide security assurances to Ukraine, but these guarantees were called into question when Russia seized Crimea and backed separatist movements within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine serves as a stark reminder of the risks Ukraine faces without the protection of nuclear deterrence. This situation underscores the importance of international agreements and the complexities of maintaining security in a volatile geopolitical landscape.