*NEW YORK:* Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia appealed to the UnitedStates on Tuesday to “refrain” from any action it might be planning againstSyria over a suspected deadly chemical weapons attack.

“The threats you are proffering that you’re stating vis-a-vis Syria shouldmake us seriously worried, all of us, because we could find ourselves onthe threshold of some very sad and serious events,” Nebenzia told USAmbassador Nikki Haley.

“I would once again ask you, once again beseech you, to refrain from theplans that you’re currently developing for Syria,” he said after thecouncil failed to approve a third draft resolution on suspected chemicalweapons attacks in Syria.

The recent suspected chemical attacks in Syria have raised the prospect ofa direct military confrontation between Russia and the United States.France, UK and Saudi Arabia have hinted at the possibility of joining a USled strike on Syria that Moscow warns could have “grave consequences”.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, who is currently on avisit to France, said that “If our alliance with our partners requires it,we will be present,” in reference to the possibility of Saudi Arabia takingpart in a joint strike on Syria.Previously, French President Emmanuel Macron had warned that France may usemilitary force if chemical attacks in Syria are proven.

US President Donald Trump had said that he would decide how the US respondsto the alleged chemical attacks as officials believe that military plansare currently being drawn for strikes in Syria.

British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke with Donald Trump on Tuesdayafternoon.

“They agreed they would continue working closely together and withinternational partners to ensure that those responsible were held toaccount,” a statement from the prime minister’s office read.

These developments come as a third resolution in the UN Security Councilover the suspected chemical attacks failed to pass.

French officials said on Tuesday that a Russian jet buzzed a French warshipin the Eastern Mediterranean on the weekend in what is a sign of heightenedtensions between the former cold war rivals over the crisis in Syria.