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Oil prices break $100 on Russian 'military operation' in Ukraine

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Models of oil barrel are seen in front of displayed rising stock graph and words " dollars="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/reuters/02/24/20220223-global-oil.jpg"/><figcaption>Models of oil barrel are seen in front of displayed rising stock graph and words &quot;100 Dollars&quot; in this illustration taken, February 23, 2022. Dado Ruvic, Reuters/Illustration</figcaption></figure></div>HONG KONG - Oil prices soared past $100 for the first time in more than seven years on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a &quot;military operation&quot; in Ukraine.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/24/22/putin-announces-military-operation-in-ukraine">Russia&#x27;s Putin announces &#x27;military operation&#x27; in Ukraine</a></li></ul>Brent surged to $100.04 a barrel after the announcement, as concerns grew about a full-scale conflict in eastern Europe. WTI hit $95.54.It came after Putin made a surprise statement on television to declare his intentions.&quot;I have made the decision of a military operation,&quot; he said shortly before 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) in Moscow as he vowed retaliation against anyone who interfered.He also called on the Ukrainian military to lay down its arms.His statement came after the Kremlin said rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military help against Kyiv. US officials had warned of an imminent incursion by Russia after the Kremlin this week recognized two breakaway regions in Ukraine and said it would provide &quot;peacekeepers&quot;.Fears of a move were ramped up after separatists called for help to repel Ukraine forces.The threat of a conflagration has fanned concerns over supplies of key commodities including wheat and metals just as demand rallies owing to the reopening of economies after pandemic lockdowns. Crucially, oil has soared in recent weeks and on Thursday world benchmark Brent finally broke the $100 mark last seen in September 2014.&quot;Russia/Ukraine tensions bring both a possible demand shock (for Europe), and more importantly a much larger supply shock for the rest of the world given the importance of Russia and Ukraine to energy, hard commodities and soft commodities,&quot; said National Australia Bank&#x27;s Tapas Strickland.The crisis comes as governments struggle to contain runaway inflation fuelled by demand as life returns after recent lockdowns, with many fearing the fragile global economic recovery could be knocked off course.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/24/22/ukraine-imposes-state-of-emergency-amid-russia-threat">Ukraine imposes state of emergency to face down Russia threat</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/24/22/russia-on-us-sanctions-expect-strong-response">Russia says US sanctions will meet ‘strong response’: ministry</a></li></ul>

Oil prices soared past $100 for the first time in more than seven years on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 'military operation' in Ukraine, apparently realizing fears he would invade.