Doha: Oil prices rose slightly on Thursday as investors assessed the potential impact of ongoing talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which could pave the way for the easing of some Western sanctions on Russian supplies. Brent crude futures gained 21 cents, or 0.2%, to settle at USD 63.34 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 45 cents, or 0.8%, to USD 59.10 a barrel. According to Qatar News Agency, market watchers said the modest gains reflect cautious optimism over geopolitical developments and their potential influence on global oil flows.