After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, the country made the decision to relinquish these nuclear weapons due to financial constraints and geopolitical uncertainties. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum was supposed to provide security assurances to Ukraine, but these promises were shattered when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist movements within Ukraine. The current Russia-Ukraine conflict underscores the security vulnerabilities that Ukraine faces in the absence of nuclear deterrence. This situation has raised concerns about Ukraine’s ability to defend itself effectively.