Russia's put 150, 000 of its troops on high alert for war games near the border with Ukraine.<br /> <br />It's the Kremlin's boldest gesture yet after days of sabre rattling since Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich was toppled.<br /> <br />Moscow's denying the previously unannounced drill was linked to events in Ukraine.<br /> <br />Even so, it's come in the face of increasingly strident statements about the fate of Russian citizens and interests.<br /> <br />NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels issued a statement supporting Ukrainian sovereignty and independence.<br /> <br />NATO's secretary general said he had been notified of the Russian military drill.<br /> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN SAYING:<br /> <br />"I'm not in a position to go into details about the scope or the purpose of this exercise. All I know is that this military exercise has been notified, informed. I suppose the Russians have lived up to all their obligations as regards transparency but as I've been in
