European Council President Antonio Costa has stated that Russia has been the only beneficiary of the US-Israeli war on Iran so far.

“It gains ‌new resources to finance its war against Ukraine as energy prices rise,” Costa said in a speech to EU ambassadors in Brussels, The Caspian Post reports, citing foreign media.

“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 underlined the need for the EU to safeguard ⁠the international rules-based order, which he said was being challenged ⁠by the US.

“We must avoid further escalation. ‌Such ‌a path threatens the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.”