We explicitly promised Ukraine protection from Russia if they give up their nuclear weapons (which, at the time, they were the 3rd largest holder of).
Well let me see the wording of that binding legal document, so that I can see if that means that we were fully committed to war with Russia, to protect Ukraine.
What you mentioned doesn’t exist.
What you are thinking of is “The Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances is a political agreement signed in Budapest, Hungary on 5 December 1994, providing security assurances by its signatories relating to Ukraine’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.”
According to the memorandum, Russia, the U.S., and the UK confirmed, in recognition of Ukraine becoming party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and in effect abandoning its nuclear arsenal to Russia, that they would:
*Respect Ukrainian independence and sovereignty and the existing borders.
*Refrain from the threat or use of force against Ukraine.
Refrain from using economic pressure on Ukraine in order to influence its politics.
*Seek immediate United Nations Security Council action to provide assistance to Ukraine, “if Ukraine should become a victim of an act of aggression or an object of a threat of aggression in which nuclear weapons are used”.
*Refrain from the use of nuclear arms against Ukraine.
Consult with one another if questions arise regarding these commitments.
“”The Budapest Memorandum was negotiated at political level, though it is not entirely clear whether the instrument is devoid entirely of legal provisions.
It refers to assurances, but it does not impose a legal obligation of military assistance on its parties.
According to Stephen MacFarlane, a professor of international relations “It gives signatories justification if they take action, but it does not force anyone to act in Ukraine.” In the U.S. neither the George H. W. Bush administration nor the Clinton administration was prepared to give a military commitment to Ukraine, nor did they believe the U.S. Senate would ratify an international treaty, so the memorandum was adopted in more limited terms.””