President Trump claims his administration has been tougher on Russia than his predecessor's, arguing that former President Obama allowed Russia to annex Ukraine and only offered them "pillows and blankets."

"I'm the one that gave Ukraine offensive weapons and tank killers. Obama didn't. You know what he sent? He sent pillows and blankets. I'm the one -- and he's the one that gave away a part of Ukraine where Russia," Trump said in a "60 Minutes" interview that aired dSunday evening on CBS.

Trump received a great deal of criticism for failing to denounce Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election while standing on the same stage as Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July.

"I think I'm very tough with him personally. I had a meeting with him. The two of us. It was a very tough meeting and it was a very good meeting," Trump told "60 Minutes."

Trump said he believes that Russia tried to "meddle" in the 2016 election, but stopped short of directly answering other questions regarding Putin's regime, like alleged contracted hits on Russian dissidents. He did concede, however, that Putin "probably" is involved in poisonings and assassinations of his political rivals.