Essay plan - Soviet influence for security reasons?

'The Soviet Union developed its influence in Eastern Europe in the years 1945 to 1946 because it simply wanted to guarentee its security in the future.' How valid is this assessment?

Intro - Soviet started its influence after the Potsdam conference in 1945. Stalin said that he wanted to ensure that the Soviet Union was protected, as it was gravely damaged during WW2. However, other reasons may also have been behind the Soviet invasion of E.Europe..

Main - Effects of ww2 on Russia - led to Stalin NEEDING Poland. HISTORICAL DEBATE NEEDED HERE (some say he was just excusing…