Answer: c. the warm-water black sea via ukraine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Famously known as Catherine the Great, Catherine II (ruled 1762–1796) considered herself as the holy daughter of Peter the Great and sustained his militar and cultural policies.
Throughout her rule she develope formidable strategies for Russian expansion, overcoming regions in the south to procure warm-water Black Sea ports required for Russian trade. Futhermore, she obtained territories that had belonged to Poland.