Answer:
To create a buffer zone between itself and the Western powers.
Explanation:
While several western countries allied themselves with the Soviet Union during World War II, tensions between these nations arose after the war. These differences were caused by the fact that, contrary to most western nations, the Soviet Union was a communist country. After the war, many nations were worried about communism spreading to other nations, and this was reflected in their relationship with the Soviet Union. Similarly, the Soviet Union wanted to decrease the influence of Western nations on its people and their ideology. One way in which this was achieved was by conquering countries to its west, thus creating a buffer zone between itself and the Western powers.
