Obviously, the Russians would have preferred the weak and corruptible Hillary Clinton as POTUS. Trump is the very last kind of POTUS that Putin would help win an election.
However, it is quite possible Putin realized that the best way to hurt Trump would be by cultivating the appearance that he was helping him.
>> it is quite possible Putin realized that the best way to hurt Trump would be by cultivating the appearance that he was helping him <<
Of course. Probably right out of the KGB playbook.