Question

What did stalin want to create to serve as a buffer for protecting the soviet union from the west?

Answer 1

He wanted to create satellite states.

These were states that were independent in a fake way. They were independent from the Soviet Union but were all pro-soviet and had puppet governments that had to obey the Soviet Union. It was presented as if communism was their own choice and since they weren't officially a part of the union, they were a buffer towards the west.