After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, due to financial constraints and concerns about geopolitical risks, Ukraine made the decision to disarm its nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 was meant to provide security assurances to Ukraine in exchange for giving up its nuclear capabilities. However, the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the subsequent support for separatist movements in Ukraine have shown that these guarantees were not honored. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has exposed the vulnerabilities of Ukraine’s security now that it no longer has the nuclear deterrence it once possessed. This ongoing situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical challenges facing Ukraine and the broader region.