Question

What reason did the Soviet Union give for its expansion after World War II?

Answer 1

The answer you are looking for is B) It created a buffer zone to protect it from invasion.

Answer 2

Stalin wanted a "sphere of influence" formed of Eastern European countries, like Ukraine and Belarus, as Germany had attacked the Soviet Union from the west during both World Wars, and the U.S.S.R. had no geographical protection at its western border. At the same time, Stalin wanted to expand Soviet influence throughout Europe.