Every Ukrainian agrees that giving up its "significant stockpile" of nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union fell was a mistake. It only joined nuclear non-proliferation treaties in return for a guarantee of its independence. It gave up its deterrent "and got invaded anyway – twice".

The missiles are significant because they give Ukraine the ability to strike deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons if it or neighboring Belarus is attacked by foreign ballistic missile attacks,

Markets sold off Tuesday as geopolitical tensions escalated between Ukraine and Russia. The Dow fell 300 points, or 0.7%; and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both moved around 0.5% lower. The selling comes after Moscow changed its nuclear doctrine following the Biden administration giving Ukraine permission to use longer-range weapons inside targets in Russia.

Government bonds and the Japanese yen rallied on Tuesday as investors flocked to safe-haven assets after President Vladimir Putin updated Russia's nuclear doctrine amid escalating tensions with the United States over Ukraine.