After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine faced the challenge of managing a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to give up its nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 assured Ukraine of security assurances, but recent events, such as Russia’s annexation of Crimea and backing of separatists in Ukraine, have shown the limitations of such promises. The current Russia-Ukraine conflict underscores the importance of nuclear deterrence for Ukraine’s security. The vulnerability of Ukrainian security without nuclear weapons has become a significant issue in the region.