Oil prices during yesterday's trading demonstrated active growth - during the day quotations exceeded $99 per barrel. In the evening Brent added 1.18% and traded at $94.09, while WTI gained 2.63% to $92.58. The driver was the worsening conflict between Russia and the West after Russian President Vladimir Putin officially recognized Lugansk and Donetsk as independent republics. According to Altaf Kassam, head of strategy at asset management company State Street Global Advisors, players have begun to take the situation around Russia and Ukraine seriously and fear a real armed conflict. This reflects the behavior of quotations, The Wall Street Journal quotes the expert's assessment. The lack of supply in the world also contributes to the growth of oil prices. JP Morgan believes that with this factor, they can rise above $100 in the second quarter of this year.