He said it in a interview. 

 Interesting, thanks.  Biden seized $600B of Russian reserves, seized yachts and homes, led the boycott and isolation of Russia, led NATO to expand to Sweden and Finland and our support for Ukraine has devastated the Russian army and shown it be a paper tiger.  So the article is partisan and utterly stupid to suggest that Trump was tougher on Russia. 

 Putin said this so the Democrats can't use him to criticize Trump. Trump will just say he's endorsed by Putin. Undoubtedly, Putin likes Trump. 

 And, amazingly, the far right thinks it's a positive when Trump says that a mass murderer endorses him.  

"Anything you say, we automatically believe, Boss!" 

 Are you joking or you really believe that? 

 My bad 😔
There is also a interview.
https://redstate.com/jeffc/2024/02/14/vladimir-putin-tells-the-world-which-us-presidential-candidate-he-would-prefer-to-have-in-the-white-house-n2170136 

 Well a tiny dose of the past is fun for a moment 😂 

 Normalise funny disinformation 😂😂