Diplomacy has so far achieved little. A third round of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia conducted in Istanbul last week ended in less than an hour with no progress. How will Trump’s change of heart—assuming it lasts—impact the course of the war? On the latest episode of FP Live, I spoke with Michael McFaul, a Stanford University professor who served as U.S. ambassador to Russia between 2012 and 2014. Subscribers can watch the full discussion on the video box atop this page or follow the FP Live podcast. What follows here is a lightly edited transcript.

It is rare that a world leader’s views on a major international conflict have evolved so much, so publicly, and in such a short space of time. In little more than six months, U.S. President Donald Trump has gone from saying he could resolve the war in Ukraine in a day to being openly “disappointed” in Russian President Vladimir Putin for saying one thing and doing another. Trump has also gone from echoing Putin’s talking points about the war to threatening tougher sanctions not only on Russia but also on countries that conduct trade with it.

It is rare that a world leader’s views on a major international conflict have evolved so much, so publicly, and in such a short space of time. In little more than six months, U.S. President Donald Trump has gone from saying he could resolve the war in Ukraine in a day to being openly “disappointed” in Russian President Vladimir Putin for saying one thing and doing another. Trump has also gone from echoing Putin’s talking points about the war to threatening tougher sanctions not only on Russia but also on countries that conduct trade with it.

Diplomacy has so far achieved little. A third round of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia conducted in Istanbul last week ended in less than an hour with no progress. How will Trump’s change of heart—assuming it lasts—impact the course of the war? On the latest episode of FP Live, I spoke with Michael McFaul, a Stanford University professor who served as U.S. ambassador to Russia between 2012 and 2014. Subscribers can watch the full discussion on the video box atop this page or follow the FP Live podcast. What follows here is a lightly edited transcript.

Ravi Agrawal: Why has Trump flip-flopped on Ukraine?

Michael McFaul: Well, it is an extraordinary departure. This is not just some tweak in his views. He’s flip-flopped on a lot of foreign policies, but this had been a consistency, especially when he was president the first time around. So what he’s been saying about Putin recently is a big change. And honestly, I am surprised by it.

I think Trump just realized two things. One: His initial strategy for trying to end the war, which I applaud him for trying, wasn’t working.