What were stalin's goals in europe in the beginning of world war 2?

At the beginning of World War II, Stalin aimed to expand Soviet influence in Eastern Europe and secure territorial gains, particularly through the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany, which allowed the USSR to annex parts of Poland and the Baltic states. He sought to create a buffer zone of friendly socialist states to protect the Soviet Union from potential invasions. Additionally, Stalin wanted to strengthen the Soviet economy and military by acquiring resources and strategic territory. Overall, his goals were focused on both security and expansion of communist ideology.