Tribunal backing and a Victory Day ceasefire offer: Europe and Moscow's positions
A look back at the diplomatic backdrop on 5 May 2026, shaped by a European Parliament resolution and a Russian ceasefire proposal.
What was the diplomatic picture on 5 May 2026, four days before Russia's Victory Day? Two developments from the preceding days framed it: a European Parliament resolution on accountability and a Russian offer of a short ceasefire.
Parliament backs a special tribunal
On 1 May 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution supporting the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders for crimes related to the war in Ukraine. The resolution also called for sanctions to remain in place until a peace agreement is fully implemented.
The tribunal idea is tied to the concept of the crime of aggression. It would be an ad hoc international criminal tribunal aimed at prosecuting individuals responsible for the invasion, complementing the existing International Criminal Court investigation in Ukraine. The invasion has been described from the start as violating international law, though procedural obstacles exist to prosecutions under domestic criminal laws, including those of Ukraine and Russia.
A ceasefire offer for Victory Day
On 29 April 2026, during a phone call with U.S. president Donald Trump, Russian president Vladimir Putin offered a ceasefire for Victory Day on 9 May. The offer came amid the broader, repeated efforts at peace talks since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
The two positions pointed in different directions. Moscow's proposal was a brief pause tied to a date. The European Parliament's resolution tied sanctions to a fully implemented peace agreement and backed prosecution of Russian leaders.
The gap between these positions reflected the stated aims of the two sides in the wider negotiations. Russia's president has sought recognition of occupied land as Russian, guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO, curtailment of Ukraine's military and the lifting of sanctions. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has sought a ceasefire, full withdrawal of Russian troops, the return of prisoners and kidnapped Ukrainian children, prosecution of Russian leaders for war crimes, and security guarantees.
Against that background, the European Parliament's support for a tribunal and for sustained sanctions on 1 May 2026 stood alongside the ceasefire offer made on 29 April 2026 as the two main markers heading into 5 May 2026.
