Oil prices fell on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, as prospects for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal appeared to strengthen.
This raised expectations of a potential easing of sanctions.
Brent crude futures fell 35 cents, or 0.6%, to $60.21 a barrel at 0720 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was trading at $56.47 a barrel, down 35 cents, or 0.6%.
ANZ analysts said in a statement: “Crude oil fell as the market weighed up signs of optimism on a peace deal being reached between Russia and Ukraine.
“This raised concerns that recent U.S. sanctions on Russian oil companies would be ultimately lifted, adding to an already well supplied market.”
Dangote: Petrol’ll sell for N740/litre in Lagos from Tuesday
The United States offered to provide NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine and European negotiators reported progress in talks on Monday to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, an unprecedented step that sparked optimism that talks were drawing closer to negotiating an end to the conflict.
However, a deal on territorial concessions remained elusive, Reuters reported.
Adding to the pressure, soft Chinese economic data released on Monday further fuelled concerns that global demand may not be strong enough to absorb recent supply growth, said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore in a note.
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