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Russia is the Sole Beneficiary of the Middle East Crisis, EU Council President Warns
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European Council President António Costa asserted that Russia is currently the only beneficiary of the war in Iran, DW reported on March 10.
This assertion came in a speech to European Union ambassadors in Brussels. A surge in energy prices and the diminishing global focus on Russia’s war against Ukraine, Costa argued, are both working in Moscow’s favor.
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“At this moment, there is only one winner in this war—Russia,” Costa stated. “By continuously undermining Ukraine’s positions while disregarding international law, Russia is benefiting from the rising energy prices, which provide it with new resources to finance its war against Ukraine.”
According to DW, Costa also pointed out that the redirection of global attention and military resources from Ukraine to the Middle East further serves Russia’s interests, allowing the Kremlin to capitalize on the shifting focus.
Costa emphasized that the European Union must be a strong defender of the international order based on rules, a system currently under threat not only from Russia and China but, as Costa noted, also from the United States. He urged all parties involved to return to the negotiating table to prevent further escalation.
“Freedom and human rights are not achieved through bombs. They are only protected by international law. We must avoid further escalation, as this path threatens not only the Middle East and Europe, but also other regions,” said Costa.
Highlighting the EU’s support for the Iranian people and their right to determine their own future, Costa reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to standing with those advocating for peace and human rights in Iran.
Costa’s assessment that Russia is the ultimate winner in the Middle East has already been proven correct. As the war in Iran sent global oil prices skyrocketing, Moscow moved quickly to exploit the panic.
Vladimir Putin capitalized on the Gulf shipping crisis by inviting Europe to resume purchasing Russian energy. By offering to stabilize the market in exchange for dropping sanctions, the Kremlin directly used conflict in the Middle East to try and regain its lost revenue to fund its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
