OPEC oil cuts at risk as Russia yet to commit

VIENNA (Reuters) – OPEC and its allies are working towards cutting oil output by up to 1.5 million barrels per day but could fail to reach a deal if no compromise is found with non-OPEC Russia, the Saudi energy minister said on Thursday.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meets on Thursday but is waiting for news from Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, who flew back from Vienna earlier for possible talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Novak returns to Vienna on Friday for talks between Saudi-led OPEC and its allies.

OPEC hopes to prop up the price of crude, which has fallen by almost a third since October, but U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded it make oil cheaper by refraining from output cuts.