Russia the only winner' of US-Israel war on Iran: EU Council president

"So far, there is only one winner in this war—Russia. It gains new resources to finance its war against Ukraine as energy prices rise. It profits from the diversion of military capabilities that could otherwise have been sent to support Ukraine. And it benefits from reduced attention to the Ukrainian front as the conflict in the Middle East takes centre stage."

"Costa stressed the need for the EU to protect the international rules-based order, which he said was now being challenged by the United States, and for all parties in the Middle East to return to the negotiating table. Freedom and human rights cannot be achieved through bombs. Only international law upholds them."

European Council President Antonio Costa stated that Russia is the only country profiting from escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran. The conflict has caused oil and natural gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz to nearly halt, driving global energy prices upward. Russia benefits threefold: rising energy prices finance its war against Ukraine, military capabilities that could support Ukraine are diverted elsewhere, and international focus shifts from the Ukrainian conflict to Middle Eastern tensions. Costa emphasized the EU's responsibility to protect the international rules-based order and called for all Middle East parties to return to negotiations, warning that further escalation threatens regional and global stability.

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