It had lost position as a result of the disasters during the First World War and the Russian Revolution. According to Gorodetsky, through the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Stalin believed he could bring about a change in the European balance of power.
Its position was weakened by the wars of World War I and the Russian Revolution. As per Gorodetsky, Stalin believed that with the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, he could alter the balance of power in Europe.