Well he's right, but he might be shortsighted, as it was Lenin's implementation of extreme Socialist policy (Communism) by force, that assured the Soviet collapse. Anyone who did the same would have assured the same collapse.
Note however, he didn’t mention Stalin. Stalin’s rule was a 180 from Lenin and Trotsky, he ditched the Internationalism for “Socialism in One Country” and was much more nationalist and pro-Russian (despite being a Georgian).
I think Putin deep down still greatly admires Stalin.