European stocks ended firmly in negative territory Tuesday as the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East continued to weigh on market sentiment.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the Middle East are quickly dragging Europe in, forcing the continent into defensive action to protect military bases and evacuate citizens caught up in the conflict.

European markets opened weaker Monday morning as stocks digested the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, the broadening out of conflict across the Middle East and the attendant spike in oil prices. With the STOXX Europe 600 index falling 1.

The European defense landscape remains "fragmented", Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani told CNBC.

Ukraine’s push for a fast track into the European Union as part of any ​peace deal has hit stiff resistance from EU governments, who do not want to open the Pandora’s box of problems that they fear a quick accession would ‌unleash.

More money for military spending likely will mean more political interference and bad news for margins.

Despite lower construction activity and rising building material and wage costs, European builders have kept margins stable for some years. Read more here.

France will expand its nuclear arsenal and will potentially allow European partners to host its aircraft on nuclear deterrence missions, President Emmanuel Macron said on