Brent crude oil prices have topped $90 per barrel for the first time in more than seven years, as concerns over Russia’s confrontation with Ukraine and tight supplies outweigh demand issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Brent reached the $90 per barrel plateau in the early afternoon hours of Wednesday US time before dropping back to under $89 per barrel. Brent stood at $88.91 per barrel, up $1.72, or nearly 2%, in midafternoon trading. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 2.25%,