"...as it became clear that Stalin was interested only in grabbing as much land as possible to form a sizeable buffer between Russia and western Europe. Which s

"...as it became clear that Stalin was interested only in grabbing as much land as possible to form a sizeable buffer between Russia and western Europe. Which seems reasonable: German forces had reached the outskirts of Moscow and an unbelievable number of Russians died in the war." Wanting a buffer does seem reasonable, and you are correct that Russia suffered considerably during WW2. But what Russia did with that buffer, and the countries therein, is a damning indictment of Communism.