Oil Retreats as Investor Focus Returns to Ukraine Peace Talks and Venezuela Tensions

Oil prices eased on Thursday as investors shifted focus back to RussiaRU-UkraineUA peace talks and monitored potential fallout from a U.S.US seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of VenezuelaVE.

Brent crude futures were down 81 cents, or 1.3%, at $61.40 a barrel at 0904 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 78 cents, also 1.3%, to $57.68 a barrel.