U.S. Vice President JD Vance is facing a wave of criticism after asserting during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “every major conflict in human history” — including both World Wars — concluded through negotiated settlements. Vance made the point while defending the Trump administration’s push for negotiations to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, arguing that eventual land concessions are typical in war-ending deals. Historians, journalists and political opponents quickly rebuked the remark, noting that World War II ended with Germany’s and Japan’s unconditional surrenders on May 8 and Sept. 2, 1945, respectively, rather than with bargaining between the belligerents. They also pointed out that the post-war diplomatic conferences Vance appeared to reference occurred only after the Axis powers had capitulated. Vance’s comments come as President Donald Trump attempts to broker a cease-fire between Moscow and Kyiv. The vice president has said Russia has already agreed not to install a puppet government in Ukraine and is open to security guarantees for the country, though Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has continued to demand assurances that Ukraine will not join NATO. The administration maintains that negotiations remain the only viable path to ending the conflict, even as domestic critics question the historical grounding of that argument.