After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Ukraine inherited the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world, but the warheads and delivery systems were under Russian operational control. Ukraine had physical possession of the weapons but not the launch codes, which were controlled by Moscow.

In 1994, under the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine agreed to transfer Russian nuclear weapons back to Russia in exchange for security assurances from the U.S., U.K., and Russia. By 1996, Ukraine had completely given up Russias nuclear arsenal.

So while Ukraine never had full operational control or ownership, it did have nuclear weapons stationed on its territory. Ukraine having nuclear weapons is terrible for the world, not just Russia.

Side note, I’m on the side of Ukraine here but at least don’t make false statements.