Ukraine Crisis : Nato Meeting To Step Up Pressure On Russia

It is the first time ministers from the 28 member States have convened since Russia's takeover of Crimea caused a diplomatic crisis

Nato has bolstered annual air drills being held over Baltic Countries later on Monday , Russia ordered a partial withdrawl of it's troops from the border with Ukraine 

Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel he had ordered the move , according to the German Government thousands of Russian soldiers are still said to be deployed along the Eastern border of Ukraine

Meanwhile , Russian Energy firm Gazprom is increasing the price it charges Ukraine for petrol , Gazprom's chief executive Alexei Miller said last month , that Kiev had failed to pay it's bills believed to be more than $1.5 bn ( £ 900 m) 

Tensions between Russia and the overthrow of Pro Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February following months of street protests , Russia's subsequent decision to annex Crimea triggered a crisis in relations

The U.S. and EU have imposed sanctions on members of President Putin's inner circle and other officials Russia has retaliated with it's own sanctions on U.S. Politicians

Nato Foreign Ministers are expected to discuss the formal suspension of co operation with Moscow at the Brussels meeting , the are also expected to look at options including situating permanent military bases on the Baltic States to reassure members in Eastern Europe 

Russia's actions in Ukraine have rattled nerves in Estonia , Latvia and Lithuania , which were part of the old Soviet Union during the Cold War, Russia has said the troops deployed along it's border with  the Ukraine are taking part in military exercises