European Council President: Russia only beneficiary of Middle East war

The President of the European Council said that Russia is the “only winner so far” from the ongoing war in the Middle East, noting that rising oil prices are providing Moscow with additional resources to finance its war against Ukraine.

10 March, 2026 18:05

NEWS DESK

European Council President Antonio Costa said today that Russia is the sole beneficiary of the ongoing war in the Middle East, particularly due to the increase in oil prices.

Speaking during a meeting of European Union ambassadors in Brussels, Costa stated:
“There is only one winner in this war so far, and that is Russia.”

The European Council represents the heads of state and government of the countries that make up the European Union.

Costa explained that Moscow is “obtaining new resources to finance its war against Ukraine,” as a result of rising oil prices, which are a key driver of the Russian economy.

He called for maintaining pressure on Russia and not easing the sanctions imposed on it, more than four years after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Fuel prices have surged sharply since the start of the U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran and their repercussions on the Gulf states that export energy, with the price of a barrel of oil exceeding $100 on Monday.

ANHA