New York - SPA
The price of oil fell Tuesday aheadof talks in Switzerland that might help defuse tension between the West and Russiaover Ukraine, AP reported.Benchmark U.S. crude for May delivery was down 68 cents to $103.39 at 0650 GMT inelectronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 31 centsto close Monday at $104.05.Officials from the U.S., Russia, Ukraine and the European Union are set to meet inGeneva on Thursday for negotiations aimed at persuading Russia to back off inUkraine following its annexation of Crimea.Brent crude, a benchmark used for international varieties of oil, was down 43 centsto $108.64 on the ICE exchange in London after hitting a six-week high.