The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council met here on Wednesday to discuss Syria's chemical weapons crisis, but no deal was reached, diplomatic sources said.
Each member set out their position, with Russia blocking the move to mount pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Xinhua reported.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are expected to meet in Geneva on Thursday to discuss Russia's proposal that Syria surrender its chemical weapons to avert a U.S. military strike.
Earlier this week, Russia proposed Syria place its stockpiles of chemical weapons under international control in an attempt to provide a diplomatic solution to the crisis, and Syria accepted Russia's proposal.